Midtjylland Edge Nottingham Forest 1-0 In Europa League First Leg

Add as a preferred source on Google

Cho Gue-Sung struck an 80th-minute winner as Midtjylland claimed a 1-0 first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest in the Europa League round of 16. Forest controlled long spells at the City Ground and created several clear openings, yet failed to score and now travel to Denmark next week needing to overturn a narrow deficit.

Despite the defeat, Forest produced the greater threat, ending the match with 22 attempts worth 1.76 expected goals. Midtjylland registered only six shots, totalling 0.69 xG, but used their few opportunities well. Forest hit the target with just six efforts and fashioned only one officially classified ‘big’ chance.

Midtjylland began the contest on the front foot and almost took an early lead. Junior Brumado met a cross with a firm header that left Matz Sels beaten, but Murillo positioned on the line reacted sharply to clear. Forest responded, as Omari Hutchinson forced Elias Olafsson into a smart save before Igor Jesus stretched and stabbed wide.

Forest’s pressure soon increased. Elliot Anderson tested Olafsson from distance, and when Midtjylland failed to clear the rebound phase, Jesus saw a close-range header hacked off the line. After half-time, Forest again started strongly in torrential rain, with Nicolas Dominguez and Callum Hudson-Odoi both shooting off target from promising positions around the area.

Midtjylland almost stunned Forest from long range when Valdemar Byskov unleashed a powerful drive against the crossbar. That warning preceded the decisive moment. With Forest ruing more missed openings, Ousmane Diao advanced down the right and delivered a precise cross, which Cho Gue-Sung guided into the bottom-right corner beyond Sels.

The Danish side again showed why late goals have become a consistent feature of their Europa League campaign. Only Stuttgart, with six, have scored more goals from the 80th minute onwards in this season’s competition. Midtjylland’s ability to stay compact, absorb pressure and still threaten late made Forest’s wasteful finishing more costly.

This clash was the second meeting between the clubs this season, and Midtjylland have now prevailed in both. The result also improves their wider record against English opposition in European competition, which now stands at five wins, two draws and three defeats from 10 matches, underlining their comfort in these assignments.

The 1-0 advantage leaves Midtjylland well placed before the return leg, while keeping the tie finely balanced. Forest must convert pressure into goals in Denmark to stay in the Europa League, whereas Midtjylland can draw belief from their defensive resilience and late scoring trend, knowing another organised display could be enough.