All You Need to Know for Thursday's European Ties
Football writer Ben Bloom reviews the European campaigns of Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace, and previews their upcoming Europa League and Conference League matches.
European Action Continues
After two nights of UEFA Champions League play, the focus shifts to Thursday's full slate of games in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, featuring Premier League clubs.
Nottingham Forest's European Progress
Sean Dyche’s first match as Forest manager in the main stage of European competition was a 2-0 victory over Porto, thanks to penalties scored by Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus. Jesus’s goal puts him joint-top of the Europa League scoring charts this season with three goals.
That was Forest’s first European win since 1995 and brought relief to the club’s fans after a turbulent 39-day spell under Ange Postecoglou.
The win elevated Forest to 17th in the Europa League standings after an earlier surprising loss to Midtjylland.
Recent Premier League Form
- Forest lost to AFC Bournemouth in a subsequent league match.
- They drew 2-2 against Manchester United on Saturday, putting up a strong fight.
This Thursday's fixtures will test how Villa, Forest, and Crystal Palace build on their European runs so far.
“The continental football feast continues on Thursday with a full round of fixtures in Europe's other club competitions.”
Author's Summary: Nottingham Forest's recent European win under Sean Dyche marks a promising turn, as Premier League clubs prepare for another night of continental football.