Midtjylland topple Forest again as Europa League turns into unwanted distraction

The Europa and Conference Leagues have reached the last-16 stage and we will be focused on two English clubs in action tonight.

At the City Ground, Nottingham Forest host Midtjylland. When these teams met on this ground during the league phase, Midtjylland won 3-2 over Ange Postecoglou’s Forest in early October. Fast forward a couple of managers later and Forest head into this last-16 tie with Vitor Pereira at the helm. Forest are only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference but Pereira is not writing off Europe to solely focus on Premier League survival.

“For now, we try to be competitive in both, in the Europe League and try to get points and results in our league,” Pereira said. “I need to try to balance, but to be competitive in the next game and afterwards against Fulham. It is important for the players to be ready to help the team, we need to be ready to challenge and perform. We have quality in the squad, they are working hard, with good energy, trying to understand the tactical demands. We will be ready.”

Stefan Ortega, Dan Ndoye and Jair Cunha will all be missing for the hosts tonight.

Midtjylland finished third in the league phase of the Europa League, winning six of their eight games, and only finishing behind Lyon and Aston Villa. They currently sit second in the Danish top flight, four points off the top.

At Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace take on AEK Larnaca. These sides met during the group stages, with AEK Larnaca claiming a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in late October.

Palace had to come through the play-off round to reach  the last 16, beating Zrinjski. Palace were very active during the January transfer window, bringing in three attackers in Jorgen Strand Larsen, Brennan Johnson and Evann Guessand.

“That was the target of the winter transfer window: to strengthen our attack, because we were often short of numbers,” Oliver Glasner said. “I think the club did a great job regarding the strengthening our attack. The new players are really getting integrated [with the group] very well. It is not one-way, it is two-ways, but it is quite easy because the player who are here are great lads, and so are the new ones as well, so it is maybe easier.

“It just gives us more options and we need this now. We have a three-game week again, and are expecting a very physical and intense game against Leeds [in the Premier League on Sunday]. Therefore, we need all these options, and it is good to have them.”

Daniel Munoz is set to miss out with a shoulder problem but Maxence Lacroix is back available after his domestic suspension and Jean-Philippe Mateta could return after a knee injury that scuppered his move to AC Milan in January.

AEK Larnaca currently sit third in the Cyprus top flight, eight points off the top, and have had nearly a week to recover since a 3-0 home win over Akritas Chlorakas last Friday. They finished eighth during the group stages of the Conference League.

Team news from the City Ground and Selhurst Park to follow shortly.