Nottingham Forest aim to boost their Europa League knockout hopes with a win at Braga on Thursday evening. The English side, sitting 11th in the league phase, face a seventh-placed Braga team in their penultimate matchday fixture. Confirmed starting lineups feature returns and rotations for both squads.
The Europa League league phase reaches its penultimate matchday as Sporting Braga host Nottingham Forest at Estadio Municipal de Braga. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, with live coverage available in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate via Discovery Plus for £29.99 monthly.
Forest, managed by Sean Dyche, enter the contest in 11th position after earning 11 points from six matches, including a recent 0-0 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal. A victory could propel them closer to automatic qualification for the last 16, as they trail the top eight by just two points. Their only prior European encounter with a Portuguese side this season was a 2-0 home win over Porto on Matchday 3. Under Dyche, Forest have won three of four Europa League games.
Braga, fifth in the Portuguese top flight, sit seventh in the Europa standings with four wins from six league phase matches. They recently defeated Tondela 1-0 but suffered cup exits to Vitoria Guimaraes and AD Fafe. This marks the first competitive meeting between the clubs, though Forest won a 3-0 friendly in July 2016. Braga have a mixed record against English teams, winning just six of 20 competitive matches.
Braga make six changes to their lineup: Lukas Hornicek in goal; defenders Gustaf Lagerbielke, Sikou Niakate, Bright Arrey-Mbi, and Victor Gomez; midfielders Florian Grillitsch, Jean-Baptiste Gorby, Gabri Martinez, and Diego Rodrigues; forwards Fran Navarro and Ricardo Horta. Substitutes include Joao Moutinho and Paulo Oliveira.
Forest introduce seven alterations, with Ryan Yates returning from injury: Matz Sels in goal; defenders Nicolo Savona, Nikola Milenkovic, Morato, and Ola Aina; midfielders Dilane Bakwa, Yates, Douglas Luiz, and James McAtee; forwards Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White. Bench options feature Callum Hudson-Odoi and Elliot Anderson.
Injuries sideline Braga's Amine El Ouazzani, Sandro Vidigal, and Rodrigo Zalazar (suspended), while Forest miss Chris Wood and John Victor. The top eight advance directly to the round of 16; ninth to 24th enter playoffs in February 2026. The final is set for May 30, 2026.
