Nottingham Forest vs Malmö

Weeks before kickoff, Nottingham Forest and Malmö FF are due to face off at The City Ground in Nottingham on 27 November 2025, with kickoff set for 20:00 GMT. This Europa League fixture carries significance for both sides as Forest aim to secure their position in the knockout phase, while Malmö seek to revive a troubled European campaign.

Forest arrive with multiple key players sidelined. Those out include Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz, Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Dilane Bakwa and goalkeeper Angus Gunn, leaving the squad with thin defensive and midfield options. Playmaker Morgan Gibbs‑White also misses out due to a knock. On a brighter note, striker Igor Jesus returns from suspension and is expected to lead the line, while younger or fringe players may step up to fill creative gaps.

Tactically, Forest under manager Sean Dyche are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Given their personnel constraints, the emphasis will likely be on defensive organisation, disciplined midfield structure and quick transitions rather than sustained attacking pressure. Offensively Forest may rely on direct play and utilise Igor Jesus’s presence up front, with wing-backs or wide players providing width and service.

Malmö FF also head into the match weakened. They are without Arnor Sigurdsson, Gentian Lajqi and Erik Botheim, removing important attacking and midfield options. However, forward Daniel Gudjohnsen returns from suspension and could feature. Malmö might adopt a compact, cautious formation — likely a 4-3-3 — aiming to stay compact defensively, absorb pressure and possibly hit on the counter-attack or exploit set-piece opportunities.

Ahead of kickoff, most pundits lean toward Forest being favourites, citing their home advantage, better recent form and Malmö’s struggles in Europe this season. Many expect Nottingham’s organisation and improved defensive discipline under Dyche to prove decisive. Still, some analysts caution that Malmö must not be discounted — if they handle the pressure and make use of Gudjohnsen’s return, they could spring a surprise, especially if Forest become overconfident or reckless.