Nottingham Forest vs Porto

The match between Nottingham Forest and FC Porto will take place at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on Wednesday, October 23, 2025. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 BST (21:00 CET), as part of the UEFA Europa League group stage. The atmosphere around the City Ground is expected to be electric, as this will be Forest’s first European home game under their new manager, with supporters eager to see how the team responds after recent struggles in both domestic and continental competitions.

For Nottingham Forest, the main absentee is full-back Ola Aina, who remains out following hamstring surgery. Chris Wood is also a doubt after suffering a knock and may not feature. Additionally, several players such as Taiwo Awoniyi and Omari Hutchinson are not registered for European competition, limiting Forest’s attacking options. On the Porto side, key players Luuk de Jong and Nehuén Pérez are unavailable, but the Portuguese club otherwise have a strong and experienced squad traveling to England. Both teams are expected to make some rotational changes due to a congested fixture schedule.

This game marks Sean Dyche’s first match in charge of Nottingham Forest following his appointment earlier in the week. Dyche is expected to shift the team from a back-five setup to a more compact 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on defensive organization and set-piece strength — hallmarks of his coaching style. He emphasized the need to regain discipline and stability after Forest’s recent run of poor defensive performances. Porto, coached by Francesco Farioli, are expected to line up in a 4-3-3, maintaining their possession-based system while relying on fast transitions and wide attacking play to exploit spaces behind Forest’s full-backs.

The press in both England and Portugal have closely followed the buildup to this game. English outlets focus on the high expectations surrounding Dyche’s debut and the importance of securing a result to lift team morale. Porto’s form has been a central talking point as well, with the team coming into this match after ten wins in their last eleven games, making them strong favorites. However, journalists note that Porto’s historical record on English soil has been poor, which could give Forest hope of causing an upset if they can stay organized and take advantage of their home support.

Analysts in pre-match studio discussions generally see Porto as the superior side, highlighting their tactical balance, consistency, and attacking depth. Nonetheless, they acknowledge that Dyche’s appointment could bring an immediate psychological boost to Forest. Pundits expect Forest to play cautiously, staying compact and looking for set-piece or counterattacking opportunities. The main question among analysts is whether Forest’s defense can withstand Porto’s sustained pressure and if Dyche’s tactical adjustments can take effect quickly enough to make a difference. Predictions lean toward a narrow Porto victory, though many experts suggest a draw is possible if Forest channel their energy and crowd support effectively.

Watch and Download Nottingham Forest vs Porto full match replay and highlights, At Wednesday, October 23, 2025. The match played at The City Ground, in Europa League, UEFA.

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