The Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul is ready for a cauldron of noise. Fenerbahçe host Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final on 21 May 2026. Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe side are chasing their first European trophy since 2008. Nottingham Forest, the surprise package of the season, are dreaming of a first continental final since 1980. With a place in the final in Seville on the line, this two-legged tie promises fireworks. Here is everything you need to know about Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest, including team news, predicted lineups, and how to watch live. Unlike the campy joy of the Eurovision film, this match will be intense, tactical, and fiercely contested.
Match Details: Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest
Competition: UEFA Europa Conference League – Semi-Final First Leg
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (22:00 local time)
Venue: Sukru Saracoglu Stadium (Ülker Stadyumu), Istanbul
Capacity: 47,834
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
The second leg takes place on 28 May 2026 at the City Ground in Nottingham. The winner over two legs faces either Chelsea or Fiorentina in the final on 10 June 2026 at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville.
How to Watch Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest Live
United Kingdom: The game is live on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+. Coverage begins at 19:30 BST.
USA: CBS Sports Network and Paramount+ (English) and ViX (Spanish).
Turkey: TRT 1 and Exxen.
Australia: Stan Sport.
Canada: DAZN.
India: Sony LIV and Sony Sports Network.
Africa: SuperSport and New World TV.
If you need an affordable device to stream all the European action, check Back Market UK for refurbished phones and tablets to catch every goal from Istanbul.
Team News and Injuries
Fenerbahçe:
Jose Mourinho has almost a full squad available for the first leg at home. Here is the latest:
- Edin Džeko: The 40-year-old striker is fit and in excellent form. He has 22 goals this season, including 7 in the Conference League.
- Sebastian Szymanski: The Polish playmaker is available despite a minor knock. He leads the team in assists with 14.
- Fred: The former Manchester United midfielder is fully fit and expected to start in midfield.
- Çağlar Söyüncü: The Turkish international defender returned to training last week. Expected to partner Becão at centre-back.
- İrfan Can Kahveci: Out with a hamstring injury. Not expected back for the first leg.
- Jayden Oosterwolde: Suspended for the first leg after yellow card accumulation in the quarter-finals.
Nottingham Forest:
Nuno Espirito Santo has several injury concerns ahead of the trip to Istanbul:
- Taiwo Awoniyi: The Nigerian striker is fully fit after recovering from an ankle issue. He has 18 goals this season and will lead the line.
- Morgan Gibbs-White: Available despite a minor calf issue. Forest’s creative heartbeat is crucial to their attacking play.
- Callum Hudson-Odoi: Returned to full training after a groin problem. Expected to start on the left wing.
- Neco Williams: Out with a hamstring injury. Ola Aina will start at right-back.
- Felipe: Long-term knee injury. Out for the remainder of the season.
- Anthony Elanga: Fit and available. His pace on the counter could be vital in Istanbul.
Unlike Manchester City’s packed schedule, Forest have had a full week to prepare for this Istanbul trip after their Premier League game was moved to Sunday.
Predicted Lineups
Fenerbahçe (4-2-3-1):
Livaković; Osayi-Samuel, Söyüncü, Becão, Kadioglu; Fred, Krunic; Tadić, Szymanski, Kent; Džeko.
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1):
Sels; Aina, Murillo, Niakhaté, Toffolo; Sangaré, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi.
Head-to-Head Record: Never Met Before
This is the first competitive meeting between Fenerbahçe and Nottingham Forest. Forest have faced Turkish opposition once before, beating Besiktas 2-1 on aggregate in the 1978/79 European Cup second round – a season they went on to win the trophy.
Fenerbahçe have faced English sides 12 times in European competition. Their record is W3 D4 L5. They famously beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford in the 2016/17 Europa League group stage. However, they have never beaten an English side in a two-legged knockout tie.
Just as Omaze UK winners beat incredible odds, Forest will need to beat the odds to get a positive result in the hostile atmosphere of the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Form Guide: How Both Teams Reached the Semi-Finals
Fenerbahçe’s Road to the Semi-Finals:
Group Stage: Topped Group A (W5 D1 L0)
Round of 16: Beat PAOK 3-2 on aggregate (2-1 home, 1-1 away)
Quarter-Finals: Beat Club Brugge 4-3 on aggregate (3-1 home, 1-2 away)
Key Stat: Fenerbahçe are unbeaten at home in European competition this season (W5 D1).
Nottingham Forest’s Road to the Semi-Finals:
Group Stage: Topped Group G (W4 D1 L1)
Round of 16: Beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 on aggregate (2-0 home, 1-1 away)
Quarter-Finals: Beat Midtjylland 3-2 on aggregate (2-1 home, 1-1 away)
Key Stat: Forest have scored in every away game in the Conference League this season.
Just as Storm Floris caused disruption across Scotland, Forest will try to disrupt Fenerbahçe’s rhythm in Istanbul.
Key Battles to Watch
Edin Džeko vs Murillo:
Džeko is 40 years old but still deadly in the box. He has 7 goals in the Conference League this season. Murillo, Forest’s 23-year-old Brazilian centre-back, will need to use his pace and strength to handle Džeko’s physical presence. This is a classic young vs old battle.
Morgan Gibbs-White vs Fred:
Gibbs-White is Forest’s creative engine. He drifts between the lines and finds pockets of space. Fred, the former Manchester United midfielder, will be tasked with marking him and breaking up Forest’s attacks. If Gibbs-White is quiet, Forest struggle to create chances.
Anthony Elanga vs Bright Osayi-Samuel:
Elanga’s pace on the counter-attack is Forest’s biggest weapon away from home. Osayi-Samuel, Fenerbahçe’s right-back, is also quick but can be caught out of position when he pushes forward. This could be the defining battle of the first leg.
Tactical Preview: Mourinho vs Nuno
Jose Mourinho is a master of two-legged European ties. He has won the Champions League twice (Porto 2004, Inter Milan 2010), the Europa League twice (Porto 2003, Manchester United 2017), and the Europa Conference League once (Roma 2022). His tactical intelligence in knockout football is unmatched.
Mourinho will set Fenerbahçe up to dominate possession at home. He will want a lead to take to Nottingham. Expect Fenerbahçe to press high, use Džeko as a target man, and look for Szymanski and Tadić in the half-spaces.
Nuno Espirito Santo will set Forest up to be compact and counter-attack. Forest’s best results away from home have come when they sit deep, absorb pressure, and hit teams quickly through Elanga and Hudson-Odoi. A score draw (1-1 or 2-2) would be an excellent result for Forest to take back to the City Ground.
Just as London City Airport offers quick connections to Europe, Forest will look for quick transitions from defence to attack to catch Fenerbahçe off guard.
The Atmosphere: Sukru Saracoglu Stadium
The Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, known locally as “Şükrü Saracoğlu,” is one of the loudest stadiums in Europe. Fenerbahçe fans are famous for their passionate support, choreographed displays, and deafening noise. The stadium holds 47,834, but it sounds like twice that.
Forest players have been warned about the atmosphere. “We’ve been showing the players clips of Fenerbahçe home games,” Nuno said in his pre-match press conference. “The noise is incredible. We have to be mentally strong. If we concede early, the crowd will make it very difficult.”
Forest have taken 2,500 travelling fans to Istanbul. They will be housed in the away end behind one goal. Turkish police have implemented strict security measures, and fans are advised to travel in groups and avoid unlicensed bars.
Score Prediction: Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest
This is a difficult game to predict. Fenerbahçe are strong at home, but Forest have shown remarkable resilience in Europe this season.
Forest will likely sit deep and try to hit on the counter. Fenerbahçe will dominate possession but may struggle to break down a compact Forest defence. The key moment could be a set piece – both teams have scored frequently from corners this season.
Prediction: Fenerbahçe 1 – 1 Nottingham Forest
Goal Scorers: Džeko (38′) for Fenerbahçe; Awoniyi (67′) for Forest.
A 1-1 draw would be a fantastic result for Forest. It would mean a winner-takes-all second leg at the City Ground, where Forest have lost only once in European competition since 1984.
What Happened in the Europa Conference League This Season?
The 2025/26 Europa Conference League has been full of surprises. Chelsea, the competition favourites, are in the other semi-final against Fiorentina. Aston Villa were knocked out by Ajax in the Round of 16. Lazio, another pre-season favourite, lost to Midtjylland in the quarter-finals.
Nottingham Forest are the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition by UEFA coefficient. Their run to the semi-finals is already being called one of the greatest European runs by an English club outside the “big six.”
Ticket Information: Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Sold Out
The Sukru Saracoglu Stadium is sold out for the first leg. Fenerbahçe allocated 2,500 tickets to Nottingham Forest, which sold out within hours. Over 4,000 Forest fans are expected to travel to Istanbul without tickets to experience the atmosphere.
Local police have warned fans about counterfeit tickets. “Only buy from official sources,” a police spokesperson said. “Counterfeit tickets are common for big matches.”
Forest fans without tickets are urged to watch in the official fan zone at Taksim Square, where a big screen will show the match. The fan zone opens at 18:00 local time.
Jose Mourinho’s European Record
Jose Mourinho has won five European trophies as a manager:
- UEFA Champions League: 2004 (Porto), 2010 (Inter Milan)
- UEFA Europa League: 2003 (Porto), 2017 (Manchester United)
- UEFA Europa Conference League: 2022 (Roma)
Mourinho has never lost a two-legged European tie at home in his career. That record will be tested by Nottingham Forest.
Just as Arsenal face Slavia Praha in the Europa League, Forest face their own European giant in Fenerbahçe. Both English clubs will need to be at their best to advance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time does Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest kick off? Kick-off is at 20:00 BST on Thursday, 21 May 2026 (22:00 local time in Istanbul).
Is Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest on TV? Yes. In the UK, it is live on TNT Sports 2. the USA, it is on Paramount+. In Turkey, it is on TRT 1.
Who is the referee for Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest? Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who officiated the 2022 World Cup final, will take charge of the first leg in Istanbul.
When is the second leg? The second leg is on Thursday, 28 May 2026 at the City Ground in Nottingham. Kick-off is at 20:00 BST.
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