Fenerbahçe Faces Nottingham Forest in Europa League Playoff Clash

Istanbul will host the first leg of a Europa League knockout round playoff between Fenerbahçe and Nottingham Forest on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The match, kicking off at 17:45 local time (12:45 PM EST), pits a confident Fenerbahçe side against a Forest team undergoing significant change.

Fenerbahçe’s Strong Form

Fenerbahçe enters the match with momentum, having secured four consecutive victories in the Turkish Süper Lig since the conclusion of the Europa League group stage. The Turkish club also boasts a strong home record in the Europa League, having never suffered back-to-back defeats on their own turf.

Nottingham Forest in Transition

The atmosphere surrounding Nottingham Forest is considerably less optimistic. The team has experienced a turbulent season, resulting in the recent appointment of Vitor Pereira as their fourth manager of the campaign. Pereira, who previously managed Fenerbahçe during two separate spells, was officially announced on Sunday, February 16, 2026, succeeding Sean Dyche. Currently 17th in the Premier League, Forest’s primary focus appears to be securing their top-flight status rather than progressing in the Europa League.

Match Details and Odds

The first leg will be played at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul, promising a passionate and potentially intimidating atmosphere for the visiting Forest side. Odds currently favor a Fenerbahçe victory, with a reported price of 2.10.

Other Europa League Playoff Fixtures (February 19, 2026)

• Brann vs. Bologna (17:45)
• Dinamo Zagreb vs. Genk (17:45)
• PAOK vs. Celta Vigo (17:45)
• Celtic vs. Stuttgart (20:00)
• Lille vs. Red Star Belgrade (20:00)
• Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Ferencváros (20:00)
• Panathinaikos vs. Viktoria Plzeň (20:00)

Key Statistics

As of February 19, 2026:

• Fenerbahçe League Position: 13th
• Nottingham Forest League Position: 17th
• Fenerbahçe Total Points: 12
• Nottingham Forest Total Points: 14
• Fenerbahçe Goals Scored: 10
• Nottingham Forest Goals Scored: 15
• Fenerbahçe Goals Conceded: 7
• Nottingham Forest Goals Conceded: 7
• Fenerbahçe Shots: 96
• Nottingham Forest Shots: 97
• Fenerbahçe Shots on Target: 50
• Nottingham Forest Shots on Target: 56

The match is available to stream on Paramount+.