Sean Dyche steps into the hot seat as the third Nottingham Forest manager of the season, and his first assignment is a UEFA Europa League (UEL) meeting against Porto.
Match News and Current Form
Dyche will take charge of his first-ever game in the main draw of UEFA competition after a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea on Saturday saw predecessor Ange Postecoglou ruthlessly sacked within 30 minutes of full-time. Forest failed to win any of the Australian’s eight games in charge (D2, L6), and are winless in ten games overall (D3, L7) since beating Brentford at the City Ground on the season’s opening weekend. The Tricky Trees have followed that up with four successive defeats on home turf, failing to score three times, while conceding exactly three goals on the same number of occasions.
A visit from one of Europe’s most in-form sides is therefore poorly timed, with Porto arriving in Nottingham having won ten of their 11 matches this season (D1). New boss Francesco Farioli has had quite the impact, guiding his side to victory in all six of their away games this term by an aggregate score of 16-1! The Dragons have made a perfect start to their UEL campaign (W2), and are now looking to start a European competition with three successive wins for the first time since 2012/13.
Head-to-Head History
Forest are facing Portuguese opponents for the first time, but this will serve as Porto’s 50th meeting with English teams, losing more to Premier League opponents (27) than anyone else while never winning an away game on English soil. English teams are unbeaten in ten UEL matches against Portuguese opponents in the UEL (W3, D7).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Four of Nottingham Forest’s five home games this term produced over 2.5 goals.
The last six goals Forest conceded came after half-time.
Porto have opened the scoring inside 15 minutes in three of their last four matches.
Eight of Porto’s last ten UEL away games saw both teams score.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
All-action Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson has created a pre-round joint-high of seven chances from open play after two UEL matchdays, while also committing the joint-most fouls (seven) and winning the most (13). Samu Agehowa is looking to open his UEL account for the season here having seen his last five goals come in away matches, including a hat-trick at the weekend, while he scored twice in last season’s league phase against English opponents in Manchester United.
Forest’s only notable absentee appears to be Ola Aina, while Porto are missing Nehuén Pérez and Luuk de Jong.
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Betting Analysis
Given the chaos engulfing Forest, backing Porto to win here looks the safest route to take.
Author: Ryan Fisher
