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

Nottingham Forest are preparing to host Porto in the second 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

"We need to go into the game with the same energy and the same link-up play that we started with [in the first leg]," said Porto's William Gomes as he looked ahead to the decider in Nottingham. Porto lost 2-0 at the City Ground last season in their only previous visit, and their record in England is not encouraging (W1 D3 L20), but their quality is not in doubt.

Forest, like Porto, are two-time European champions, but in terms of recent European experience, the Portuguese side are more seasoned campaigners. Ex-Porto boss Vítor Pereira has steadied Forest in the course of a complicated domestic season, but they are still fighting for their place in the Premier League, and have lost their two most recent Europa League home games.

Possible line-ups

Forest: Ortega; Domínguez, Abbott, Murillo, Morato; McAtee, Yates, Anderson; Bakwa, Jesus, Hudson-Odoi

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

Form guide

Forest

Form: DDWWDL (most recent first)
Latest: Forest 1-1 Aston Villa, 12/04, English Premier League

Porto

Form: WDDWWW
Latest: Estoril 1-3 Porto, 12/04, Portuguese First Division

Views from the camps

Vítor Pereira, Nottingham Forest coach: "Porto play intensely, at a fast pace, pressing high. From a physical point of view, they win many duels, many second balls. We have to be ourselves and play with our tools; we have the support of our fans and good energy. I am absolutely certain that all aspects will be there – tactical, physical, mental – with two excellent teams."

Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest forward: "It's been a tough season. There's been a lot of change and upheaval at times, but there's also been a lot of positivity. We're in a European quarter-final, which is nothing to turn our nose up at. The more games the better for me. I'm excited and hungry to win tomorrow to get a few extra games on my calendar."

Francesco Farioli, Porto coach: "We need to repeat the same performance with a better level of finishing. At some moments [in the first leg], we had better pressure between the boxes, but we need to find space in a better way. We did our things the right way, and we created good chances. We weren't as consistent as we usually are in games. We barely conceded a shot on target."

Reporter's view

Steve Bates, match reporter

Forest coach Vitor Pereira will be hoping his side make home advantage count, after securing a creditable first leg draw in Porto last week with a resilient performance. Forest have already beaten the Portuguese side in Nottingham this season - a 2-0 league phase win in October - but since then Porto are unbeaten in three Europa League away games, including a fine last-16 victory in Stuttgart. Pereira will once again have an eye on Premier League safety with his team selection, but there are no such worries for Porto coach Francesco Farioli with his team leading Liga Portugal.