Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros predictions and betting tips – Top eight tough for Dyche and co.

Nottingham Forest look set to enter the knockout phase play-offs in the Europa League, with a top-eight finish almost impossible even if they were to beat Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

The Hungarian outfit are better positioned to advance directly to the round of 16, but can they collect all three points at the City Ground?

• Ferencvaros win or a draw – 19/20 with 247Bet
• Over 2.5 goals – 4/5 with Tote
• Bamidele Yusuf to score any time – 11/4 with Sky Bet

Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros odds

Find the latest Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros predictions

February is fast approaching and it is still hard to forecast just how seriously Nottingham Forest will take the Europa League for the remainder of the season.

Needless to say, securing Premier League survival is Forest’s priority. Unlikely as it may sound, if they were to open up a 12-point lead over 18th place in the coming weeks, Sean Dyche’s side would be able to dedicate more of their attention to Europe.

On the other hand, if Forest were to remain within touching distance of West Ham United – or, worse still, to drop below them in the standings – they would be obliged to ditch this competition in order to focus on the avoidance of relegation.

Right now Forest are five points clear of the bottom three – too close for comfort, in other words.

Dyche demonstrated his priorities last week when he named a weakened starting XI and bench for the trip to Braga, which saw Forest lose 1-0 despite not conceding a single shot on target.

That result in effect ended their hopes of a top-eight finish. Three points behind Real Betis, it would take a hugely improbable set of events for Forest to climb the required eight places on Thursday night.

Looking in the other direction, Dyche’s team are four points ahead of Ludogorets Razgrad in 25th, which means they are guaranteed a play-off berth regardless of what happens on matchday eight.

There is an advantage to finishing between ninth and 16th as opposed to 17th to 24th: doing so would mean Forest were seeded in the play-off draw, which would see them play the second leg at home.

However, Dyche is unlikely to see that as a prize worth going all-out for, not least because this meeting with Ferencvaros comes just three days before a crunch clash with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

“We are in a weird situation where I have to protect certain players,” Dyche said after the Braga match, in which his team missed a penalty to go 1-0 up moments before a Ryan Yates own goal put Forest’s opponents ahead.

“We know the Premier League is massively important but we wanted to do well in this competition and we still do. 

“It’s a fine line, it’s a juggling act. On one hand you want to protect some players and give everyone a chance.”

Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros betting tips

Nottingham Forest face Ferencvaros as the league phase of the Europa League concludes.

Ferencvaros can get something

Whereas Nottingham Forest have little to play for on Thursday, Ferencvaros still have work to do in order to secure a top-eight finish.

A one-point lead over Porto in ninth spot means the Hungarian outfit, who are managed by Robbie Keane, will advance directly to the round of 16 with a victory at the City Ground. A draw could be enough, but it would ultimately depend on results elsewhere. 

Ferencvaros are no pushovers. They are one of only three unbeaten teams in the tournament, alongside Freiburg and Viktoria Plzen.

Taking all that into account, the odds on Forest failing to win are hugely attractive.

Go for a Ferencvaros win or a draw at 19/20 with 247Bet

Goals at City Ground

Nottingham Forest are likely to shuffle their pack again here with a view to keeping some of their key men fresh for the Crystal Palace match.

A second-string Forest side still managed to create chances against Braga last time out, so a similar showing in this game would surely see Dyche’s team find the net.

The pressure is off Forest on Thursday and that could work in their favour, especially as they are not used to that feeling in the Premier League.

Ferencvaros have scored in 12 out of 13 European fixtures they have contested this term, so we should see a good game at the City Ground.

Pick over 2.5 goals at 4/5 with Tote

Yusuf to bag

Ferencvaros manager Keane was once an excellent centre-forward with a keen eye for goal.

Working with the Irishman has doubtless helped Bamidele Yusuf, who has struck twice in the Europa League so far.

The 24-year-old has been inconsistent since joining the Hungarian club in August, but he is a real threat on his day.

It is worth a punt on Yusuf finding the back of the net when Ferencvaros head to the East Midlands on Thursday.

Back Bamidele Yusuf to score any time at 11/4 with Sky Bet

Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros predicted lineups

• Nottingham Forest expected lineup: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Luiz, Yates; Bakwa, McAtee, Ndoye; Jesus.
• Ferencvaros expected lineup: Groff; Cisse, Raemaekers, Szalai; Makreckis, Levi, Otvos, Kanichowsky, Nagy; Yusuf, Kovacevic.

Where to watch Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros

• Location: City Ground, Nottingham, England.
• Date and time: Thursday 29th January, 8pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 3.

More Europa League predictions

We have plenty more Europa League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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