In the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Nottingham Forest hosted Midtjylland. They suffered a shock 0-1 defeat, missing out on a crucial chance to advance to the quarterfinals.

Nottingham Forest and Midtjylland were locked in a stalemate after the start of the match, with the game remaining very close at times. In the 20th minute, Forest finally managed their first shot from outside the penalty area through Omari Hutchinson, but it was immediately saved by Elias Olafsson.

After that, Nottingham Forest failed to break through the opponent's defense. In the 36th minute, Ola Aina's long-range shot was saved by Olafsson, and Igor Jesus' follow-up shot went wide of the left post. In the 40th minute, Morgan Gibbs-White cut the ball back from the edge of the penalty area, and Elliott Anderson's long-range shot was again blocked by Olafsson. In the 41st minute, Hutchinson's corner kick from the left caused chaos in the penalty area, and Gibbs-White's chip shot went wide. In the 45th minute, Hutchinson cut back from the left side of the penalty area, and Gibbs-White's follow-up shot went slightly wide.

After the break, Midtjylland launched a counter-attack. In the 51st minute, Valdemar Andresson unleashed a sudden shot from the attacking third, forcing Mats Sels to make a save. One minute later, Osman Dio passed the ball back inside the penalty area, and Andresson attempted another long-range shot, but it was denied by the crossbar. In the 67th minute, Hutchinson delivered a cross from the left side of the penalty area, and Jesus' header was easily saved by Olafsson. In the 68th minute, Neco Williams headed the ball down in the attacking third, and Andresson broke into the penalty area and fired a low shot, which was also saved.

In the 80th minute, Midtjylland finally broke the deadlock: Dio delivered a precise long pass from the right flank, and South Korean striker Cho Kyu-sung headed the ball into the net inside the penalty area to give Midtjylland the lead. Neither side managed to score again, and the final score remained 1-0.

Image source: Internet/Official website of Central Jyrgyzstan