Braga vs Nottingham Forest presents a clear opportunity for both sides as we enter the business end of the league phase in the UEFA Europa League.
With a spot in the knockout stages more or less confirmed, Braga and Nottingham Forest will be looking to avoid the play-offs if possible.
The Reds currently find themselves two points away from that luxury with the Portuguese side holding all the cards ahead of this clash in Matchday 7 in the UEFA Europa League.
Braga vs Nottingham Forest: Team News
The Portuguese hosts will be missing duo Amine El Ouazzani and Sandro Vidigal through injury, top scorer Rodrigo Zalazar through suspension and January signing Samy Merheg, who is ineligible for the UEFA Europa League until the knockout rounds.
Sikou Niakate made his return to the side recently after his Africa Cup of Nations run with Mali saw him get no game time at the competition as the defender battled injury.
For Forest, Chris Wood and John Victor remain sidelined while Ola Aina, Omari Hutchinson, Taiwo Awoniyi, Angus Gunn and Jair Cunha are all ineligible as they were not selected in the club’s UEFA Europa League squad.
Ibrahim Sangare made his return after the African Cup of Nations to the Forest team in their 0-0 draw with Arsenal, as compatriot Willy Boly was not in the squad but could feature in the team against Braga.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Daniel Farke’s Premier League Return: Has the German Proved He Can Manage In England’s Top Division?
Turning Domestic Struggles Into European Success
When you look at both Braga and Nottingham Forest, you would see the Portuguese side as the slight favourite ahead of this game.
A home tie against an out-of-sorts Forest side will only help Braga cement their place in the Top Eight of this season’s UEFA Europa League.
In a weaker Liga Portugal, Braga currently sit fifth in the table, a point outside of the European football places and a further 12 points away from the only UEFA Europa League spot.
Whilst they have lost recently in the League Cup Final and in the Taca De Portugal quarter-finals, in the UEFA Europa League, they have only lost once, a narrow 4-3 loss at the hands of Genk.
Braga have been able to record some big wins in the competition so far against the likes of Red Star Belgrade, Celtic, Nice and Feyenoord.
On the flip side, Forest are a lot lower in the table in terms of their domestic performances as they languish in 17th in the Premier League.
Having been knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup, Nottingham Forest welcomed league leaders Arsenal to the City Ground.
In some miraculous way, with a massive helping hand from Reds shot-stopper Mats Sels, Sean Dyche’s men were able to stop the Gunners from scoring, which in turn saw them come out with a well-earned draw.
In the UEFA Europa League, Forest are also almost perfect after their early-season woes in Europe.
Strong wins against Utrecht, Malmö and Porto, alongside a draw against Sturm Graz, has the Tricky Trees knocking on the door of the top eight.
With a win more than likely propelling them on the brink of qualifying for the next stage, Braga will be looking to make home advantage count as much as possible against Forest.
However, Dyche’s men are on a roll of their own, and a win would mean so much for their season, which has been very stop/start up until this point.
Head-to-Head
This is the first time the two sides will face off against each other, but Forest have already encountered Portuguese opposition earlier in the UEFA Europa League campaign.
In October 2025, Porto travelled to the City Ground on Matchday Three as they looked to turn their poor run of results into a much-needed win.
Under the lights at the City Ground, Forest were able to get that important win on the board in the UEFA Europa League after penalty goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus secured a 2-0 win.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Recording Date: 17.01.2026
