FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Match Preview
A crucial Europa League clash takes place at Stadion Galgenwaard on Thursday, 11 December 2025. Nottingham Forest sit 16th in the league table with 8 points, comfortably in the playoff zone but aiming to push for the top 8. FC Utrecht, however, are in crisis mode. Sitting 32nd with just 1 point from 5 games, the Dutch side is on the brink of elimination. A win is non-negotiable for the hosts, while Forest will look to bounce back from a heavy Premier League defeat to Everton.
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Match Info
- Competition: UEFA Europa League (League Phase – Matchday 6)
- Venue: Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht (Capacity: 23,750)
- Date: Thursday, 11 December 2025
- Kickoff: 18:45 CET | 17:45 GMT | 23:15 IST
- Referee: TBC (UEFA Appointment)
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Match Stakes
FC Utrecht (32nd — 1 pt):
- Win → Moves to 4 pts; keeps slim hopes of Top 24 alive
- Draw → Likely fatal for their qualification chances
- Loss → Almost certain elimination from Europe
Nottingham Forest (16th — 8 pts):
- Win → Jumps to 11 pts; pushes closer to Top 8 (direct Round of 16 spot)
- Draw → Consolidates playoff spot; keeps European run steady
- Loss → Risks dropping into the lower playoff seeds (17th-24th)
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Team News
FC Utrecht:
- Demircan E. — Out (Inactive)
- Jenner I. — Out (Inactive)
- Jensen V. — Out (Inactive)
- Min D. — Out (Injury)
- Ohio N. — Out (Inactive)
- van den Berg D. — Out (Injury)
Nottingham Forest:
- Aina O. — Out (Hamstring Injury)
- Awoniyi T. — Out (Muscle Injury)
- Bakwa D. — Out (Hamstring Injury)
- Douglas Luiz — Out (Thigh Injury)
- Zinchenko O. — Out (Groin Injury)
- Murillo — Questionable (Illness)
- Yates R. — Questionable (Injury)
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
FC Utrecht
- 07/12 — 1–1 vs Twente (Eredivisie)
- 30/11 — 2–2 vs G.A. Eagles (Eredivisie)
- 28/11 — 1–2 vs Real Betis (Europa League)
- 23/11 — 1–1 vs Telstar (Eredivisie)
- 09/11 — 2–1 vs Ajax (Eredivisie)
Nottingham Forest
- 06/12 — 0–3 vs Everton (Premier League)
- 04/12 — 1–0 vs Wolves (Premier League)
- 30/11 — 0–2 vs Brighton (Premier League)
- 28/11 — 3–0 vs Malmö FF (Europa League)
- 22/11 — 3–0 vs Liverpool (Premier League)
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Head-to-Head (Last Meetings)
- No previous competitive meetings found.
- This is the first-ever European clash between these two sides.
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
FC Utrecht (4-2-3-1)
Barkas V.; Horemans S., Viergever N., van der Hoorn M., El Karouani S.; Fraulo O., Aaronson P.; Romeny O., Bozdogan C., Cathline Y.; Descotte A.
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)
Sels M.; Williams N., Milenkovic N., Boly W., Moreno A.; Ward-Prowse J., Anderson E.; Elanga A., Gibbs-White M., Hudson-Odoi C.; Wood C.
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Impact Bench
FC Utrecht: Toornstra (Experience), Engwanda (Defensive cover)
Nottingham Forest: Jota Silva (Direct winger), Sosa (Attacking fullback option)
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Tactical Analysis
FC Utrecht
Desperation will drive Utrecht’s tactics. They must attack, likely utilizing the pace of Cathline and Romeny on the wings. Their midfield, led by Aaronson, needs to press high to disrupt Forest’s rhythm. However, their defense has been leaky (conceding in 4 of the last 5), and pushing too many men forward could leave them exposed to Forest’s counter-attacks.
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side thrives on transition. With Aina and Zinchenko out, the full-back areas are reshuffled, but the attacking trio of Elanga, Gibbs-White, and Hudson-Odoi remains lethal. Forest will likely concede possession to Utrecht and look to exploit the space behind the Dutch defense with direct balls to Chris Wood or rapid breaks down the flanks.
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Key Battles
- Viergever vs Wood — aerial duel in the box
- Aaronson vs Ward-Prowse — battle for midfield creativity
- El Karouani vs Elanga — pace mismatch on the wing
- Cathline vs Williams — Utrecht’s main attacking outlet vs Forest’s right back
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Spotlight Players
FC Utrecht — Paxten Aaronson
The American midfielder is the creative hub for Utrecht. With strikers Min and Ohio out, the team relies heavily on his ability to drive the ball forward and create chances from midfield.
Nottingham Forest — Morgan Gibbs-White
The orchestrator of Forest’s attack. After a blank against Everton, he will be eager to pull the strings again. His vision to release Elanga and Hudson-Odoi will be key to unlocking the Utrecht defense.
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Prediction
FC Utrecht 1–2 Nottingham Forest
Utrecht’s injury list and poor form make this a massive mountain to climb. Forest, despite their recent stumble against Everton, have superior quality in attack. The English side’s counter-attacking speed should prove too much for a desperate Utrecht chasing the game.
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Betting Insights
- Both Teams to Score — YES
- Nottingham Forest to Win — Likely
- Over 2.5 Goals — Possible
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — Where to Watch
- Netherlands: Ziggo Sport
- UK: TNT Sports
- USA: Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
- International: DAZN (Select Regions)
FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest — FAQs
Q: When is the FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest match?
A: The match kicks off on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at 18:45 CET (local time).
Q: Where is FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest being played?
A: The match takes place at Stadion Galgenwaard in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Q: Is Taiwo Awoniyi playing for Nottingham Forest?
A: No. Taiwo Awoniyi is ruled out with a muscle injury.
Q: How can I watch FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest in the UK?
A: Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports.
Q: Is this the first time these teams have met?
A: Yes. This is the first competitive meeting between FC Utrecht and Nottingham Forest.
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