Europa League

2025-10-02 - Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Nottingham Forest v Midtjylland
Football: UEFA Europa League
Thursday 2nd October 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Nottingham Forest

Chance after chance seemed to be come and go for Nottingham Forest and the fans are not going to be happy with the way things have started under Ange Postecoglou. The owner is unlikely to make a quick change, but Postecoglou and Nottingham Forest need a couple of big results to ease any growing concerns heading into the October international break.

A first appearance in European Football in thirty years ended with Nottingham Forest earning a positive result at Real Betis, although it was another wasteful display. They have to be considered one of the favourites to win the trophy next May after two English Clubs made the last Europa League Final, including one managed to victory by Ange Postecoglou.

Nottingham Forest have played 5 games under the new manager in all competitions and they have been beaten in 3 of those following the 0-1 defeat to Sunderland on Saturday. That was the first game played at the City Ground since the end of August, but does extend Nottingham Forest's run of winless games, while also meaning they have lost 2 in a row at home and both without scoring a goal.

The starting lineup was surprisingly missing some key players against Sunderland and some Nottingham Forest fans have to be worried that the priority is already the Europa League, even this early in the season. Players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi could be starting, while Igor Jesus may come in for Chris Wood.

Midtjylland

They have won the Danish Championship four times in the last decade, but Midtjylland finished behind Copenhagen and that meant entry into the Europa League. Credit has to be given to the team for the start made to the new season, especially as they have had to win three Qualifying ties to take their place in the League Phase of this competition.

An opening home draw with Hibernian put Midtjylland under pressure, but they have won 6 Europa League games in a row which has seen them beat the Scottish Club as well as Fredrikstad and KuPS in Qualifiers. It also includes a win over Sturm Graz to open this League Phase and Midtjylland will be expecting to at least match their run from last season when finishing in the top 24 of the competition.

Midtjylland will not be lacking in confidence with 10 wins in their last 11 games in all competitions, including the last 4 in a row. That one exception was an away defeat, but Midtjylland have won 4 of their last 5 games on their travels in all competitions ahead of this Match Day 2 fixture in England.

Head to Head

This is the first competitive meeting between Nottingham Forest and Midtjylland.

Prediction

It felt like deja vu for Ange Postecoglou as his new Nottingham Forest team created so many chances, but were punished for their wastefulness in the final third.

The 0-1 home defeat has put early pressure on the manager and he needs a win as much as his team, but this is another chance to get this right.

Nottingham Forest do have the superior squad to many others in the Europa League and that should see them make their way through the League Phase of the competition, but the fans will expect more after the performance of Nuno Espirito Santo as manager.

They will come forward and create chances, but the manager needs some composure in the final third, while also looking for a bit more balance defensively after conceding some late goals that have prevented Nottingham Forest from earning a first win since the opening weekend.

Respect will have to be given to Midtjylland who have won 6 in a row in the competition, and who made the Knock Out Rounds last season.

However, Midtjylland lost 3 of the 5 away games played in the Europa League from the League Phase last season and this is a big step in level of opponent.

Ange Postecoglou's starting lineups have been a little strange, but he should have the squad capable of winning this Europa League Match Day 2 fixture and in a game where they do score at least twice.