This was a night drenched in history and anticipation, as Nottingham Forest stormed into the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League with a dazzling 4-0 triumph over Hungary’s Ferencváros. For a club steeped in European folklore but deprived of such scenes for decades, this felt like the return of old magic, newly reimagined.
Fast starts and fateful finishes
From the first whistle, Forest looked intent on making an impression. Despite knowing that a top-eight finish was likely out of reach, they were undeterred in their quest to clinch a seeded spot for the next Europa League round. It didn’t take long for the warning signals to flash: Ibrahim Sangaré unleashed an early attempt, followed quickly by Dan Ndoye’s darting run and shot, forcing Dávid Gróf into action.
But Ferencváros had little chance to steady themselves. The breakthrough arrived in bizarre circumstances—Ryan Yates delivered what appeared an innocuous cross, only for the Hungarian defender, Bence Ötvös, to bundle the ball past his own keeper. It was a moment Forest fans will remember with a smile, and the visitors with a wince.
Relentless pressure unleashed
Momentum swung sharply in Forest’s favor, and Robbie Keane’s Ferencváros never recovered from their own undoing. Forest capitalized mercilessly: high pressing led to another turnover in Ferencváros territory, with Igor Jesus stepping up to stroke home the second goal from the edge of the area—cool, composed, clinical.
The action barely relented. James McAtee, whose energy radiated through the midfield, almost added a third with a glancing header that forced yet another sharp stop from Gróf.
Key highlights from Forest’s irresistible first-half surge:
• Own goal gift from Ötvös
• Igor Jesus’s edge-of-the-box strike
• Wave after wave of home attacks, setting an electric tone
Attack after halftime: no let-up in the assault
The second half opened in the same attacking fashion. Forest peppered the Ferencváros goal with a flurry of efforts: Nicolás Domínguez rattled the woodwork, while Ndoye kept Gróf alert with another testing drive. That sense of domination hung thick in the air—Forest were on a mission, their hunger to send a statement palpable.
The third goal was as stylish as any seen in the City Ground in years—a looping, hopeful ball from Sangaré brilliantly controlled and hammered home by Igor Jesus, who let the ball drop over his shoulder before dispatching it with a thumping volley. For a fleeting moment, Jesus looked set to carve his name into Forest’s European history books with a hat-trick, but manager Sean Dyche—cushioned by the scoreline—made his substitutions, and Jesus’s shot at immortality slipped away.
Record-breaking moments and fresh memories made
As the clock ticked down, Ferencváros never truly threatened a comeback, while Forest’s composure allowed them to savor the moment, knowing their job was done. The final flourish came as Ötvös, already on the scoresheet for an own goal, dragged Ndoye to the ground, giving Forest a penalty. James McAtee coolly converted, rounding off a night that will linger long in the memory.
Nottingham Forest have now secured three successive wins in European competition for the first time since their legendary 1978/79 campaign—a stat sure to send shivers down red-shirted spines everywhere.
Key facts from the famous night:
- Forest’s first-ever clash with Hungarian opposition ended with a comprehensive 4-0 win.
- The result secures seeding for the Europa League play-off round in 2025/26.
- Three straight European victories for the first time since the club’s golden era.