Nottingham Forest advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Midtjylland on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The match, which ended 1-2 on the night, went to penalties after extra time couldn’t separate the two sides, with Forest ultimately winning 3-0 in the shootout.
The win secures Nottingham Forest’s place in the next round of the Europa League, a significant achievement for the club as they continue their European campaign. Martin Erlic scored for Midtjylland in the 69th minute, forcing the game into extra time after Nicolás DomÃnguez and Ryan Yates had given Forest a 2-1 lead.
DomÃnguez opened the scoring for the visitors in the 40th minute, leveling the aggregate score. Yates then added a stunning strike in the 52nd minute, putting Forest ahead in the tie. However, Erlic’s goal ensured the match would head to a tense penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangaré, and Neco Williams all successfully converted their spot-kicks for Nottingham Forest. Midtjylland faltered, with Cho Gue-Sung and Aral Simsir both hitting the same post, and Edward Chilufya missing his attempt entirely.
VÃtor Pereira’s side had trailed after the first leg, but they demonstrated resilience and composure to overcome the Danish side. The Portuguese manager made nine changes from their previous goalless draw against Fulham, clearly prioritizing this European fixture.
Nottingham Forest will now face Portuguese giants Porto in the quarter-finals next month. The team can now turn their attention back to domestic duties, with a challenging trip to Tottenham scheduled for Sunday.
The match was played at the MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, in front of an attendance of 10,554.
