Forest vs Malmö, Rangers v Braga, and Additional – Europa League Updates
Match Coverage
Key Events
- Full-time: Villa 2-1 Young Boys
- GOAL!: Late goal from Monteiro makes it 2-1
- Game over: Feyenoord 1-3 Celtic
- Team news: Starting players for Forest vs Malmö
- Team news: Starting XI for Rangers vs Braga
- Preamble
Latest Standings
The initial outcomes have significant impact on the Europa League table. Celtic have moved up to 17th place and returned to the secure playoff places.
| Pos | Side | Matches | Goal Difference | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midtjylland | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | Freiburg | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 4 | Ferencvaros | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| 5 | FC Porto | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 17 | Celtic | 5 | -1 | 7 |
| 25 | Nottm Forest | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 35 | Rangers | 4 | -7 | 0 |
| 33 | Malmo FF | 4 | -5 | 1 |
Final Score: Aston Villa 2-1
Villa managed to hold on for the win and became tied on points with front-runners Midtjylland at the top of the competition table. The English side had difficulty of that during the closing minutes.
90+1: Monteiro Pulls One Back
The Swiss side created a hope through Monteiro but were left with additional time to score the leveler!
Full-time: Feyenoord 1-3 Celtic
A memorable and crucial win for the Glasgow side. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic roared back with goals from Yang, the Japanese midfielder and Benjamin Nygren.
Match Updates
The Birmingham side, concurrently, maintained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with approximately five minutes left at their home ground.
The Dutch forward's brace there sparked furious scenes in the away end, with visiting fans clashing with police. Scuffles broke out and objects thrown at both the authorities and toward the field, with the goalscorer being caught on the head by a plastic cup.
Starting XI Revealed
The Reds: The goalkeeper, Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, Yates, The defensive midfielder, The midfielder, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo.
The Swedish side: Ellborg, Stryger Larsen, Jansson, Duric, Rosler, Haksabanovic, The midfielder, Skogmar, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, Busanello.
Referee: Harm Osmers (Germany)
Lineups: Rangers vs Braga
Rangers: Butland, The defender, The center-back, The defender, Aarons, Barron, Diomande, Raskin, The attacker, Danilo, Chermiti.
The Arsenalistas: The goalkeeper, The defender, Lagerbielke, Niakate, The full-back, The midfielder, The experienced midfielder, Gorby, The attacker, Navarro, The striker.
Referee: Lindhout (Holland)
Historical Context
Nottingham Forest v Malmö and memories of 1979. The both teams have a unique relationship, also facing each other in Forest's most recent continental tour in the UEFA Cup of 1995-96, but it is the continental championship from 1979 that links these clubs, with the groundbreaking transfer Francis heading the only goal of a pretty miserable final to clinch eternal glory for the Forest supporters.
"The legendary management duo, unassuming and low-key amid all the colour and celebration, stood for a moment on a bench serenely viewing the mafficking," wrote the match reporter. Theirs has been an outstanding achievement that it is hard to see being repeated – from second tier to European football in a short period."
It's also interesting to consider Malmö, who became the first, and to date the last Scandinavian side to advance to the ultimate game under manager Houghton.
The current fixture is a far cry from that peak, closer perhaps to the Uefa Cup first-round tie between Forest and Malmö in that era. Forest are full of confidence after beating Liverpool 3-0 at Liverpool's home on Saturday, while Malmö haven't played officially since 9 November following the end of the Swedish league season. The popular prediction is on the English side tonight.
Additional games on offer in this clockwatch. The Glasgow club have already been beaten by a Braga this season. Rangers are rock bottom of the competition table at the middle of the league phase with precisely zero points. They badly want a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a late surge for a playoff spot.
Updates will continue with all the evening matches and provide the most recent results from the earlier matches, including the Birmingham match and Feyenoord v Celtic.
