Nottingham, January 30, 2026 – Nottingham Forest wrapped up their UEFA Europa League league phase in the best way possible on Thursday night, rolling past Hungarian champions Ferencváros 4-0 at a loud City Ground. The result puts Forest into the play-off round as a seeded side, with Panathinaikos or Fenerbahce among the possible opponents.
It also marked Robbie Keane’s return to England as Ferencváros manager, but his team never settled. Forest set the tempo early, finished their chances, and kept things tight at the back. From start to finish, Sean Dyche’s side looked sharper, stronger, and more confident.
Early Own Goal Sparks the Night
Forest struck first in the 17th minute, and it came from a forced error. Ryan Yates drove a low cross into the box, and defender Bence Ötvös, under pressure, diverted it into his own net. The opener lifted the stadium and gave Forest total control.
Four minutes later, it was 2-0. Yates won the ball high up the pitch after a loose touch from Cadu and quickly found Igor Jesus. The forward carried the ball toward the edge of the area and guided a right-footed finish into the bottom corner. Clean, calm, and out of reach.
Igor Jesus Adds Two and Ends It Early
Forest kept pressing after the break and made it three in the 55th minute. Ibrahim Sangaré clipped a smart ball over the top, Jesus timed his run, and he broke in behind. He drilled a low shot across goal into the far corner for his second of the match, and his 11th goal in all competitions this season.
Ferencváros rarely looked like getting back into it. Their best moment came when Bamidele Yusuf’s header hit the woodwork, but Forest’s defense handled the rest without much trouble.
McAtee’s Late Penalty Makes It Four
Forest completed the scoring right at the end. In the 90th minute, James McAtee stepped up and scored from the spot after Ötvös brought down Dan Ndoye in the box. McAtee kept his nerve and placed it neatly to finish off a big night at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest Player Ratings and Key Stats
Forest’s win came from a strong team effort, with a few clear standouts.
| Player | Position | Key Contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (GK) | Goalkeeper | Solid, little to do | 7 |
| Dan Ndoye | Forward/Winger | Won penalty, lively all night | 8 |
| Ryan Yates | Midfielder | Created problems, wonthe ball for a goal | 8.5 |
| Ibrahim Sangaré | Midfielder | Lofted assist for the third goal | 8 |
| Igor Jesus | Forward | Two goals (21′, 55′) | 9 |
| James McAtee | Midfielder | Scored penalty, strong display | 8.5 |
Forest controlled the ball for long spells, created steady pressure, and limited Ferencváros to a few real chances.
Ferencváros Fall Short After Defensive Errors
For Ferencváros, it was a rough finish to the league phase and a missed chance to push for a top-eight spot. The heavy loss drops them into the play-offs.
| Player | Position | Key Contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bence Ötvös | Defender | Own goal, gave away a penalty | 4 |
| (GK) | Goalkeeper | Conceded four goals | 5 |
| Cadu | Winger | Poor touch led to the second goal | 5.5 |
| Bamidele Yusuf | Forward | Hit the woodwork | 6 |
| Robbie Keane (Manager) | – | The setup got overrun | – |
They struggled to cope with Forest’s pressure and paid for mistakes, especially in key moments.
Dyche Praises Confidence and Mindset
After the match, Dyche highlighted the attitude his side showed: “Overall we deserved the victory. I’ve spoken endlessly here about the squad mentality, there was a lot of belief on that pitch tonight.” He also pointed to McAtee’s performance and Ndoye’s sharp play.
Forest now turns to the Europa League play-offs while balancing Premier League demands. Ferencváros head home knowing they’ll need a quick reset before their own knockout tie. For Forest fans, this was the kind of night that makes Europe feel exciting again.
