Fenerbahce vs Nottm Forest predictions: Pereira unlikely to hit the ground running
Aaron Ashley
Fenerbahce have lost only two of their last 28 matches
Nottm Forest have won only three of their last 13 games
Recommended bet: Fenerbahce to win
Vitor Pereira has been appointed on an 18-month deal in the hope of steering Nottm Forest to Premier League survival, but the Portuguese manager will still be motivated to take the Tricky Trees as far as possible in the Europa League.
Pereira became the club's fourth manager of the campaign following the recent departure of Sean Dyche and his first test in the dugout is a trip to Turkey to face Fenerbahce in a Europa League play-off.
Forest finished 13th in the league phase of the competition, taking 14 points from their eight games and they were six places and two points above their Turkish opponents.
But Pereira has a difficult job on his hands to rally a side which has won only three of their 13 games since the middle of December, while Fener are in flying form.
Domenico Tedesco's side have suffered only two defeats in 28 matches since September, one of which came against Aston Villa in this competition and they have reeled off four straight successes.
The latest Fenerbahce vs Nottm Forest odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Fenerbahce will be unable to call upon the services of Archie Brown, Abdou Fall, Mert Gunok, Emre Mor, Anthony Musaba and Mert Yandas.
Forest remain without goalkeepers Matz Sels and John Victor, while New Zealand international striker Chris Wood is a long-term absentee.
Willy Boly is injured and Taiwo Awoniyi, Luca Netz and Stefen Ortega are not included in Forest’s Europa League squad.
The stats
Fenerbahce have reeled off four straight wins, scoring 11 goals along the way.
Forest have lost six of their last nine away matches and have managed just three wins in their last 13 matches.
Both teams to score has been a winning bet in six of Fenerbahce's last eight games.
Only three teams scored more league phase goals than Forest's 15, but the Tricky Trees won only one of their four away games in the league phase of the competition.
The latest Fenerbahce v Nottm Forest odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
This looks a tough starting point for new Forest manager Pereira as Fenerbahce are scoring goals for fun and have a strong European pedigree, with their squad including experienced heads such as N'Golo Kante, Marco Asensio, Milan Skriniar and Kerem Akturkoglu.
With 11 goals scored in four outings, the Turkish hosts should fancy their chances and a hostile atmosphere in Istanbul will be something new for Forest to contend with.
Forest's last three matches have seen them lose 3-1 to Leeds either side of draws with Crystal Palace and Wolves and they are relying on Pereira's appointment triggering an upturn.
Fener have recorded home wins over Nice and Stuttgart in this season's Europa League, while Forest have failed to score on trips to both Sturm Graz and Braga.
