Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche makes his Europa League debut against Portuguese giants FC Porto the City Ground for matchday three, Softfootball reports.
The Tricky Trees sacked Ange Postecoglou following their 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea last weekend with former Burnley and Everton manager Dyche coming on board and his first task will be to secure a win against a Porto side that has a 100% record in the competition so far.
Although, Nottingham Forest haven’t won a game in the Europa League yet, FC, having drawn against Real Betis 2-2 and lost 3-1 at home to Midtjylland, the Tricky Trees’ are up for the next game against Porto as they shared on their official X handle.
Back in @EuropaLeague action on Thursday. 👊 pic.twitter.com/5xKTR45c2f
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 20, 2025TEAM NEWS
Taiwo Awoniyi, Omari Hutchinson, Jair Cunha and Angus Gunn are all ineligible for the Europa League after being left out of the squad. Nottingham Forest’s only injury concern is Ola Aina, who is still recovering from hamstring after a successful surgery.
Nottingham Forest are set to switch to a four-man defence under new manager Sean Dyche following his appointment on Monday, a sharp departure from the back five in Postecoglou’s deployed in his final match against Chelsea last weekend.
Here is new Nottingham Forest manager, Sean Dyche and his players in training. Video courtesy the club’s official X handle.
Day one. ✅
Watch Sean Dyche's first day as Forest Head Coach. 🎬
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 21, 2025Morato could make the first XI alongside Igor Jesus, Dan Ndoye and Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood, who played under Dyche at Burnley. Captain Ryan Yates needs to fight for his place against new arrival from Juventus Douglas Luiz or Ibrahim Sangare.
FC Porto has shown their excitement ahead of the encounter via their official X handle.
#UEL is 🔛 pic.twitter.com/mpHtYMX4sz
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) October 19, 2025For Francesco Farioli’s Porto, Luuk de Jong and Nehuen Perez remains sidelined with knee ligament injuries, while Tomas Perez and Yann Karamoh are both ineligible for the Europa League.
Southampton defender Jan Bednarek set to continue alongside Arsenal loanee Jakub Kiwior in central defense, Alberto Costa and Francisco Moura will complete the back four.
Alan Varela, Gabri Veiga and Victor Froholdt will feature in centre-midfield, while star striker Samu Aghehowa in attack by former Norwich City playmaker Borja Sainz and Brazilian winger Pepe.
Nottingham Forest probable XI:
Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Zinchenko; Ndoye, Yates, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Gibbs-White; Wood
Porto probable XI:
D. Costa; A .Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Moura; Froholdt, Varela, Veiga; Pepe, Samu, Sainz
Softfootball prediction
Nottingham Forest will be desperate for their first win in the Europa League but they face a very tricky opponent in FC Porto and it may just end in a draw. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Porto.
