Porto vs Nottingham Forest Europa League quarter-final preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups

Porto welcome Nottingham Forest to Estádio do Dragão for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know?

Nottingham Forest came out on top when these sides met on Matchday 3, penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus securing a 2-0 home victory, but that is the only defeat Porto have suffered in this season's competition, Francesco Farioli's charges further enhancing an already formidable record with home and away victories against Stuttgart in the last 16.

Forest overturned a first-leg deficit before progressing via penalties in their second leg at Midtjylland. The English side boast the competition's joint top-scorer in seven-goal Igor Jesus and impressive strength in depth too. "Considering the changes [to our line-up], it just shows the strength and spirit we have," captain Ryan Yates told TNT Sports after victory in Herning.

Possible line-ups

Porto: Diogo Costa; Martim Fernandes, Bednarek, Kiwior, Zaidu; Varela, Gabriel Veiga, Froholdt; William Gomes, Deniz Gül, Pepê

Nottingham Forest: Ortega; Williams, Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato; Yates, Sangare; Dominguez, McAtee, Bakwa; Awoniyi.

Form guide

Porto

Form: DWWWWD
Latest: Porto 2-2 Famalicão, 04/04, Portuguese First Division

Nottingham Forest

Form: WWDLDL
Latest: Tottenham 0-3 Nottingham Forest, 22/03, English Premier League

Views from the camps

Francesco Farioli, Porto coach: "It's a privilege to play in the Europa League quarter-finals against an opponent like this. We are where we should be in terms of level of performance and commitment, will to win and ability to advance in the competition. [Vítor Pereira] did important things at Porto and he will prepare Nottingham to be at their best. We will have to be at our best to compete. They have quality in their coach and their squad. They have been on the up since Vítor's arrival. And of course, all these elements will force us to give our best on the field."

Vítor Pereira, Forest coach: "The boys deserve [to be in the quarter-finals], because they are a fantastic group. I don't have any doubt that we have the quality to achieve our targets. I want to thank our supporters, because they deserve to keep going in this Europa League."

Reporter's view

Carlos Machado, Porto reporter

Porto have every intention of continuing on in the Europa League but must overcome a side who beat them in the league phase to do so. The Dragons are very competitive this season and are a better side than that 2-0 defeat in England would suggest. Nott'm Forest are coached by a former Porto boss in Vítor Pereira, which gives another point of interest for this tie, and will have every belief that they too can reach the latter stages of the competition.