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Midtjylland Defeat Nottingham Forest in Europa League Opener
Nottingham Forest suffered a 3-2 defeat against FC Midtjylland in their Europa League Group D opener on October 2, 2024. The match, played at the City Ground, saw Forest undone by two first-half goals from set-pieces and a late breakaway goal, despite a spirited second-half response.
First-Half Set-Piece Struggles
Midtjylland took the lead through Ousmane Diao,who converted a cross from a set-piece at the far post. Forest quickly responded with a goal from Dan Ndoyle,leveling the score. However, Midtjylland regained their advantage shortly after, with Mads Bech scoring from close range following another set-piece delivery.The article references a historical parallel to a Forest game against Bayern Munich where Jurgen Klinsmann and Jean-Pierre Papin scored, suggesting a recurring weakness in defending set-pieces.
Forest’s inability to deal with Midtjylland’s set-piece threat was a major talking point,with the Danish side widely regarded as specialists in this area. The home crowd ironically cheered when forest finally cleared a corner.
Injury and Second-Half Frustration
an injury to defender Murillo, returning to the starting lineup for the first time as being substituted during the opening match of the Premier League season against Arsenal on August 12, 2024 (ESPN), further compounded Forest’s difficulties. This added to the scrutiny surrounding coach Nuno Espírito santo, who has faced questions as taking charge.
Chris Wood,introduced as a substitute,twice had goals disallowed for offside before finally scoring a penalty in stoppage time. Though, by that point, Andreasen had already extended Midtjylland’s lead with a breakaway goal, sealing the victory.
Key Match Statistics
| Statistic | Nottingham Forest | FC Midtjylland |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 3 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 7 |
| Possession | 52% | 48% |
| Corners | 7 | 4 |
For detailed match statistics, see sky Sports Europa League Scores and fixtures.
What’s Coming Up in the europa League?
The Europa League continues with matchday two on October 24, 2024. Nottingham Forest will travel to Greece to face Olympiacos, while Midtjylland will host Feyenoord. Full fixture lists and results are available on Sky Sports.
