Match Day LIVE
Europa Cup (Knock Out Round Play Off).
Fernabache of Turkey vs Nothingham Forest of England
Venue -Sukru Saracoglu Stadium , Turkey .
Time -5.45 pm
Date -February 19, 2026
Under their new Portuguese Manager ,Victor Pereaira takes the center stage tonight as the new head Coach of the embattled Nothingham Forest who have had three Managers within 6 months .
They visit Fernabache of Turkey in the Europa Cup first leg play off match at the Saracoglu Stadium in Turkey .
This is will be their first meeting at this stage as the two clubs hope to secure a spot in the round of 16 knockout stage of the Europa Cup this season .
In a nightmarish season , the Tricky Trees have had three Managers in the name of Nuno Espirito Santo , Ange Postucoglu as well as hoke boy ,Sean Dyche who were all shown the exit door for inactivity at the City Ground , by the controversial owner Evangele Marinakis .
Series of bad results , with a 3-1 defeat at Leeds as well as a hopeless goalless draw with bottom placed and relegation bound Wolves led the owner Evenhelis Marnikas to act swiftly to recruit former Wolves Manager Perairaie for an 18 month contract , who was recently sacked at the Molineux four months ago .
A firm believer in Forests potentials , Pereaira has admitted that he may not be able to change much , though he is comfortable at Forest having worked with Evangelis Marinakis at Olympiacos for more than a decade and will do all he can steer the Tricky Trees from the 17th position where they are presently in the English Preesmiership League .three points away from the drop zone away from danger in their remaining 12 league matches .
Psrairas first assignment and baptism of fire as the new manager apart from his Premeiship opener this weekend against defending champions Liverpool , is away in Turkey , his former club where he spent two separate spells with the latest being in 2021 of about five months against , Fernabache in the Europa Cup play off first leg match .
The Tricky Trees who are travelling to Turkey for the first time , had to settle for a 13th position in the 36th league phase table in the league standing of the Europa Cup , despite beating Ferencavos 4-0 in their last group games at City Ground , with just two pointd away from automatic qualification for the round of 16 matches .
With four wins , two draws , two defeats was their score card during the group games ,with only five points in their kitty , a success in the city of Istanbul may be proof to be a rarity , but with Pereira at the hrlms of affairs as Forest Manager , he is very optimistic he will go through having won his last seven matches with his team in his glowing managerial career, which is seen as an added advantage ahead Thursday s clash at Istanbul , Turkey .
They made their way through to tnights clash with a one win out of five matches in the league phase of the knockout stage to finish 19th on the table , after losing 1-0 to Aston Villa at City Ground before drawing FSCB 1-1 on match Day Eight ..
The Turkish based outfit , Fernabache have won their last four domestic changes in the Turkish League and scored 11 goals in kiding back to back victories in the Trukish Super League over Gen lenbirgli 3-1 and Trabzonspor 3-2 , their victory over the later helped them preserve their unbeaten run of 22 games in the Turkish League and a hot chase to League leaders , Galatasaray , with only three points separating the leader and the led in the Turkish top flight .with the Yellow Canaries eyeing their 20th title since 2014 .
Fernabache picked their seven points from the 12 league matches at home in Turkey with only their home defeat to Aston Villa that ended their unbeaten run in Europa at the Saracoglu Stadium with a good record of not losing back to back games in the Europa before now .
The Turkish team have faced English opposition 21 times and came out victorious in four of it , (D2, L12) , with the lasted being a home win against Manchester United 2-1 in 2016/17 Europa League group stage games .
Predictions .
With their latest performance in the Europa games , the Yellow Canaries will be confident of a win against unpredictable Forest with a new Manager who will be battling to setlle down at work at the City Ground , faced with multiple football problems , both in the domestic front as well as the European games .
Though the Tricky Trees will be hell bent for an impressive outing against the Turks in Istanbul , to get a share of the spoils ahead of the second leg in UK. But the hosts will also try to win at all cost and secure a win in order to make the second leg a mere formality at the City Ground next week
Fernabache , 3-2 Nothingham Forest Or 2-2. Or 3-1
Happy Viewing and Happy Europa Cup Play offs , First Leg .
Uche Anaba .
Uchefreetips 2026 (C).
Email -ucheanaba@gmail.com
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