Nottingham Forest vs FC Porto - Team News, Match Preview and Everything you Need to Know

Nottingham Forest vs FC Porto - Europa League Preview

Well, then. Here we are.

Before jumping into this preview, breaking down the form guides and looking who can and cannot partake tonight, I felt it pertinent to have a little monologue of my own at the top of this piece as a Nottingham Forest fan myself. Hopefully, some Nottingham Forest fans like myself will be reading this at the moment and, so, I ask you this:

Do you remember your first?

Under the City Ground lights for a place in the @EuropaLeague semi-finals. 👊

YOU REDS! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/2V4DUgU4An

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 16, 2026

I remember mine. 'Twas a drizzly March afternoon just a few days before my 14th birthday, and goals from Zach Clough and Britt Assombalonga saw us take Brighton to the cleaners at the City Ground and, from there, I was hoodwinked into putting up with this football club for the rest of my life.

My first-ever away day was pretty stellar as well, watching a Joe Lolley masterclass as we drew 5-5 with Aston Villa in one of the best EFL matches ever. My first-ever season ticket came in 2018, sat in Upper Bridgford for one season before heading to Lower Bridgford with my lifelong mates where I have remained ever since.

What the twinkly-eyed teenage Louis Wheeldon didn't ever expect a 'first' of, was a European Quarter-Final. A chance at breaking into the final four of one of Europe's elite competitions and to be amongst the chasing pack for a spot in the Champions League itself, a competition that I had heard plenty to do with Forest's participation in under it's previous name through my grandad, but had only truly known through the television where the big boys play. Not Forest. No longer the team that won in Munich and Madrid.

You can be the difference. pic.twitter.com/eniYcU5FNE

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 15, 2026

This whole journey over the last five years has been absolutely mesmerising, pillar to post and for good and bad. From Steve Cooper's fist pumps and Joe Worrall doing slide tackles with his head. From Jesse Lingard taking so long to score a goal for us that his dancing celebration had stopped trending months ago. From the initial unbelievable form shown under Nuno Santo that got us flirting with the top four and getting into the Europa Conference League. The boardroom drama that saw us swap with Crystal Palace. The four f*cking managers we've somehow had.

And, of course, the games themselves. Hearing a European anthem blare around Trentside amidst a roaring atmosphere and flamethrowers for our first continental fixture in decades was a special moment I won't soon forget. What I will try my best to forget, of course, is the result that night.

A special concoction of time and fiscal boundaries have left me able to only make my way onto one European away trip this season, that being the last round in Herning, Denmark as we dismissed FC Midtyjlland, and whilst I was out there I had to take a moment to remember just how far we have come, and how truly mind-bogglingly difficult the game of priorities must be.

Potentially 12 hours away from a semi final in Europe. Majority of this team has played 1 game in over 3 weeks. If I see a second string against a team like Porto then I’ll be gutted. Today is a tougher test than Sunday. This is once is a generation opportunity.

— Harry (@H_Sax98) April 16, 2026

Here I was, half-cut in the back arse of Europe with my Forest-supporting friends, seeing familiar faces from over the last decade here in this random Scandinavian town all the same knowing these are the same people that would have been over in Wigan, Blackpool or Birmingham or any of the other places I'd managed to do a rare away day in over the years. People who, just like me, would have never imagined that the same Nottingham Forest of those days would be out and about in the continent, rubbing shoulders with teams vying for a Champions League spot and a major European trophy.

The arguments before kick-off tonight ring the same as they did in the last round - should we really be going for it in this game, with a massive Premier League fixture coming on the weekend in our relegation fight?

Tonight, Forest have this outrageous opportunity to give the fans something that a generation didn't deem possible at any point, that being a fighting display on the European stage and maybe - just maybe - a cat's chance in hell of twice defeating one of Europe's most in-form teams. The Europa League has been a treat for all of us this season, through the booze, the drama, the good and bad results and through all the moments in between that would not have been deemed possible for the side fighting against the drop to League One nearly a decade ago. I, for one, think it would be a shame to wave it away without giving it the absolute clappers.

Nottingham Forest or Porto? 👊#UEL pic.twitter.com/IcfPMtkFXg

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 16, 2026

Hopefully, this isn't the end of this story. For the club, Premier League survival will be of the upmost importance this season. But for the hearts and minds, the deepest foray into Europe that is possible will ring around the memories far more often.

Anyway, team news, preview, something something...

Form Guide - Nottingham Forest vs FC Porto

Nottingham Forest

We Reds have had a challenging campaign to deal with as a whole, with a unique blend of extra games, off-field chaos and rollercoaster performances leaving Forest battling still for their Premier League survival. However, we have had plenty of joy in Europe this term.

We faced a tricky start in the league phase with two draws, a loss and one win - a 2-0 triumph over Porto, funnily enough, on Sean Dyche's debut - in our opening four matches. But a run of three wins and one loss from the next four games secured a 13th-placed finish in the league phase, and booked a spot in the playoff round against Fenerbahce.

Um guia para o Matchday em Nottingham ⚽💙#UEL pic.twitter.com/Iovrb01JJX

— FC Porto (@FCPorto) April 16, 2026

We made it past the Turkish giants with a 4-2 win on aggregate with a stunning display in Istanbul managing to hold off a 2-1 defeat in Nottingham, which was followed by a tense Last 16 affair with Midtyjlland which ended in a penalty shootout win for the Reds, after goals from Nicolas Dominguez and Ryan Yates helped take the game to extra-time.

Then a re-match with Porto awaited Forest in the quarter-finals, where they faced immense pressure and 16 shots from the opposition, but William Gomes' early tap-in was cancelled out by a freak Martim Fernandes own-goal to leave honours even going into the second leg at the City Ground.

Forest should, and will, take confidence from their 2-0 win over Porto in the League Phase as well as their current form - they've only lost once since the start of March - but will be wary of having lost both of their home fixtures in the knockout rounds so far.

FC Porto

Porto are enjoying a much better season than their hosts this evening, sitting five points clear at the summit of the Liga Portugal, and are without a defeat in their last eight games in all competitions - they have also lost just once in the Europa League this campaign, that coming their way at the same venue as they travel to tonight.

Francesco Farioli's men finished 5th in the League Phase with five wins, two draws and one loss, which preceeded a comfortable 4-1 dismissal of German side VFB Stuttgart in the Last 16. Domestically, Farioli and co boast a solid 24 wins, four draws and just one sole loss in 29 Liga Portugal games to see them sit first ahead of Sporting.

Those results and their consistent, sustained form throughout the 2025-26 season will put wind in the Portuguese side's sails ahead of the match, but their record against English opponents is far from perfect - they are winless in their last five matches against English opponents in the Europa League, including the 2-0 defeat and 1-1 draw with Forest this term.

Nottingham Forest Europa League Form - W W L L W D

Nottingham Forest General Form - L D W W D D

FC Porto Europa League Form - W D W W W D

FC Porto General Form - W W W D D W (oh f*ck)

Nottingham Forest vs FC Porto Team News

Nottingham Forest

Predicted Starting XI: - Ortega; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Sangare, Dominguez; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus

Thanks to injury issues, Nottingham Forest will remain without Nicolo Savona, Willy Boly and goalkeeper John Victor for this tie. Jair Cunha was also thought to be absent for the tie, but an Instagram post by the massive Brazilian last night suggested he may be fit to take part again.

Elliot Anderson is the only unexpected #NFFC player absent from training this morning.

Told it’s due to personal reasons. pic.twitter.com/L4smiUgkSy

— Jak Netting (@JakNetting) April 15, 2026

The Reds could potentially be boosted by the return of Elliot Anderson, who served a suspension in the first leg and may return to partner with Ibrahim Sangare tonight. However, the dynamic England international missed training yesterday, citing personal issues that may put his participation tonight in doubt.

The rest of the team, should Forest go for it this evening, may remain unchanged from their weekend draw with Aston Villa, though German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be expected to take the place of Matz Sels - the former Manchester City shot-stopper had an outstanding display in Portugal last week.

There are a few players walking a yellow-card tightrope for Forest tonight, with Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Morato and Ryan Yates all one booking away from missing the first leg of any potential semi-final tie.

FC Porto

Predicted Starting XI: - D. Costa; A. Costa, Silva, Bednarek, Sanusi; Fofana, Rosario, Veiga; Gomes, Moffi, Sainz

Porto will contend with missing players for this one, with Luuk de Jong, Samu Aghehowa and Nehuen Perez all on the injury shelf. Shortly after his freak own-goal which ultimately decided the first leg last week, Martim Fernandes joined them with an innocuous knock that will likely see him absent tonight as well.

Other than Fernandes, and after a mostly dominant display in the first leg, Farioli may opt to keep the team otherwise unchanged in hopes of another commanding performance and better result at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest vs FC Porto Prediction

Our Guess: Nottingham Forest 2-1 FC Porto (3-2 on Aggregate

Porto have had a stronger season in genral in comparison to Forest, but the Reds have had the better of this exact meeting this season and have the home advantage. We are going for a Tricky Trees win this evening. Plus, I'm biased as anything - what are you gonna do?