Fenerbahce vs Nottingham: Preview, H2H, and probable line-ups — February 19, 2026
On Thursday, February 19, Istanbul’s Şükrü Saracoğlu will turn into a real cauldron: Fenerbahce hosts Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa League play-off round. This will be the first official meeting between these clubs in history, and it promises to be a red-hot encounter.
Match preview
Fenerbahce, under the stewardship of Domenico Tedesco, are hitting top gear. Since Mourinho’s departure at the start of the season, the team has transformed, winning four of their last five matches. Last weekend, the “Canaries” snatched a dramatic 3-2 win over Trabzonspor, further boosting their confidence. Tedesco has instilled a more flexible and attacking style, while the winter arrival of Talisca has added some magic in midfield. At home, the Turkish side traditionally plays on the front foot, and backed by their passionate fans, they’ll be eager to seize control of the tie from the very first leg.
Nottingham Forest arrive in Turkey amid turbulence. Just a week ago, on February 12, the club parted ways with Sean Dyche after a poor run in the Premier League that left them hovering just above the drop zone. New boss Vítor Pereira faces a baptism of fire on this away trip. Despite domestic struggles, the “Tricky Trees” have impressed in Europe—most notably thrashing Ferencvaros 4-0 in January. The visitors’ main headache is a packed treatment room, especially in defence and between the posts, with first-choice keeper Sels sidelined by injury.
Tactically, expect Fenerbahce to apply pressure from the opening whistle. Tedesco favours a high defensive line and aggressive pressing. For Nottingham, who under Pereira will likely aim for a compact, organized setup, surviving the early onslaught and exploiting counter-attacking opportunities—particularly through the pace of Igor Jesus—will be crucial.
Probable line-ups
Fenerbahce: Ederson; Muldur, Skriniar, Oosterwolde, Semedo; Guendouzi, Kante; Musaba, Asensio, Nene; Talisca
Nottingham: Ortega; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Lucca
Match facts and head-to-head
- This will be the first ever meeting between these teams
- Fenerbahce have won four matches in a row and are unbeaten in six
- Nottingham have won just two of their last eight matches, keeping four clean sheets
Prediction
I expect an open, high-scoring game: Fenerbahce are in fine form, while the English visitors, under new management, will be eager to make a statement. My prediction: over 2.5 goals at 1.95
