Dominant display ends Ferencvaros unbeaten run
Nottingham Forest powered into the Europa League playoff round with a convincing 4-0 home win against Hungarian champions Ferencvaros at the City Ground. Igor Jesus continued his strong scoring form with a brace, while James McAtee converted a late penalty to complete the rout.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis will watch Friday’s draw in Nyon closely, as Forest could face either Fenerbahce or his other club Panathinaikos. A matchup against the Greek rivals in Athens would create an intriguing scenario for the Forest owner.
Sean Dyche’s side delivered a performance that echoed their mission to show ambition in Europe. After a disappointing result in Braga the previous week, Forest blew away their opponents, ending Ferencvaros’ unbeaten record in the competition and their hopes of a top-eight finish.
Had Forest won in Portugal, combined with this result and other outcomes, they might have qualified directly for the round of 16. Instead, they now look forward to another European tie next month.
Yates influence and Jesus clinical finishing
Ryan Yates, restored to the starting lineup among five changes, played a key role in the opening goals. His first-time cross forced Bence Otvos into an own goal to break the deadlock. Minutes later, Yates intercepted a heavy touch from Cadu, allowing Igor Jesus to advance unchallenged. The Brazilian forward drove at captain Ibrahim Cisse, whose slight deflection sent the shot into the far corner for a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Forest could have been further ahead before the break. After the restart, Nicolás Domínguez headed against the post, but the third goal arrived when Ibrahim Sangare lofted a pass over the defence. Ferencvaros let the ball bounce, and Jesus pounced to smash a first-time finish into the corner.
Ferencvaros showed limited threat, with Bamidele Yusuf hitting the bar from a header as their best moment. Dyche introduced Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ola Aina in the second half. Gibbs-White stepped aside to let McAtee take the resulting penalty after a foul in the box, and the young midfielder confidently scored his goal to seal the 4-0 result.
Keane reflects on gulf between sides
Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros rarely threatened after an early header from Kristoffer Zachariassen struck the post. The former Ireland striker acknowledged the clear difference in squad investment, estimating a £650m gap in player value. He expressed disappointment but remained realistic about the outcome.
Keane, who trialled at Forest as a teenager, has built a strong coaching record abroad, including a domestic double at Maccabi Tel Aviv. His assistant Stephen Glass played alongside Dyche at Watford, adding another layer of connection.
Post-match, Keane noted the potential for “fate” in the draw, as Ferencvaros could face Celtic, where he spent time on loan and worked under Martin O’Neill. He praised O’Neill’s impact at Celtic and predicted tough ties regardless of the opponent.
Forest captain Ryan Yates voiced confidence that the team believes they can go all the way in the competition. These European nights continue to build hope among supporters for a deep run toward the final in Istanbul.
