Forest to crush again? Fenerbahçe face a near-impossible mission

Slug: nottingham-forest-vs-fenerbahce-prediction-preview
Meta description: Nottingham Forest head into the second leg with a 3-0 advantage. Can Fenerbahçe pull off a miracle comeback?
Short description: Forest are close to sealing qualification with a dominant lead.

H2: Forest look to protect their advantage

Nottingham Forest secured a commanding 3-0 win in Istanbul, with goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Head coach Vítor Pereira has enjoyed an ideal European start.

Stats favor Forest

Forest have kept clean sheets in their last three European home matches and boast a 65% clean-sheet rate at home in major European competitions.

Tough challenge for Fenerbahçe

Fenerbahçe may be strong away from home, but their European record in England is poor — just one win in their last ten matches.

More importantly, they have never overturned a first-leg defeat in 26 European knockout ties.

Prediction

Forest’s structure and home strength give them a clear edge. Fenerbahçe will be forced to attack, which should open up the game.

Main pick

Over 2.5 goals (80%)

Alternative pick

Nottingham Forest to win (20%)

Why over 2.5 goals?

• 7 of Fenerbahçe’s last 11 away European matches ended over 2.5

• 4 of Forest’s last 5 matches produced 3+ goals

• Over 2.5 landed in 4 of Fenerbahçe’s last 5 games