Nottingham Forest ended the Europa League league phase in style, beating Ferencvaros 4-0 at the City Ground to secure 13th place out of 36 teams and boost confidence before the play-offs, with Igor Jesus scoring twice and James McAtee registering a first goal for the club.
Ryan Yates now believes this strong finish can be a springboard for a deeper Europa League run, especially as Forest have already secured a play-off berth and kept another clean sheet, extending a strong defensive run in European matches at home this season.
Forest’s defensive numbers in Europe at the City Ground remain impressive, as the Ferencvaros win means they have recorded clean sheets in 12 of their last 14 home fixtures in major European competition, while this campaign
has also brought a first run of three straight European home victories with shutouts.
The match opened in Forest’s favour after just 17 minutes when Bence Otvos turned the ball into Ferencvaros’ net, and Sean Dyche’s side then dominated, keeping control in front of their own supporters and adding further goals to complete another strong European performance.
By scoring four times, Forest reached that tally in a major European game for only the fourth occasion in their history and the first time since a European Cup quarter-final against Grasshopper Club Zurich in 1979, the season when Brian Clough’s team went on to lift club football’s top prize.
Igor Jesus played a central role, finding the net twice and moving on to six goals for this European campaign, which means Igor Jesus is now only the second Nottingham Forest player to score at least five goals in a major European season, matching Gary Birtles’ six-goal haul from 1978-79.
| Nottingham Forest Europa League record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final league-stage position | 13th of 36 teams |
| Score vs Ferencvaros | 4-0 |
| Home clean sheets in last 14 European games | 12 |
| Consecutive home European wins with clean sheets | 3 |
| Igor Jesus goals this European campaign | 6 |
Forest were already guaranteed a Europa League play-off spot before facing Ferencvaros and knew a top-eight finish was unlikely because they needed seven teams above them to drop points, yet the performance suggested they will approach a tie with either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos in positive mood.
You Reds!pic.twitter.com/mFxmLlwxZPNottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 29, 2026
Nottingham Forest Europa League platform for Dyche and players
Yates felt the display was exactly the response Forest required after a demanding schedule, explaining that the team needed a confidence boost across the squad following several changes, while also stressing the importance of quickly recovering before the next match and backing up this performance.
Forest’s Europa League form contrasts with domestic struggles, as Sean Dyche’s side sit 17th in the Premier League, and Dyche suggested that progress in Europe, including this convincing victory, can help provide a base for improvement amid challenges with travel, planning and a busy run of fixtures.
It has not been easy through various games, with the schedule, planning, travelling and all that sort of stuff, Dyche added. To come out of a disappointing one in Braga and then to deliver that. I am very pleased. I said last time I wanted them to lay a marker down and put constant doubt in my mind. It has been very difficult, but I am really pleased, and I am pleased for the supporters as well, that they gotto enjoy that.
Dyche reserved particular praise for McAtee, adding:We have been speaking to him, trying to get him to play with freedom. I thought Dan Ndoye was super sharp tonight, too. Some of the games haven't been where he [McAtee] wants to be or where we want him to be. Tonight, he was, and I am pleased for him. He has been putting the work in. In all these games, particularly the Premier League, if your framework is not good, you can get opened up, but it is equally coming off that to play with freedom. Therehave been good signs recently and good signs tonight.
Forest’s emphatic win, the milestone for Igor Jesus, McAtee’s contribution and another clean sheet collectively strengthen belief that the team can compete with upcoming Europa League play-off opponents, while also offering a measure of encouragement as Dyche and the players look to improve their Premier League position.
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