Forest vs Malmö, Rangers vs Braga, and Additional – UEFA Europa League Updates
Match Coverage
Key Events
- Final whistle: Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys
- GOAL!: Joël Monteiro scores for Young Boys at 90+1
- Game over: Feyenoord defeated 1-3 by Celtic
- Starting XI: Forest and Malmö lineups
- Team news: Starting XI for Rangers vs Braga
- Preamble
Latest Standings
These early results strongly influence the competition standings. Celtic climbed to 17th place and returned to the protected playoff places.
| Rank | Team | Played | GD | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midtjylland | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | Freiburg | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 4 | Ferencvaros | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| 5 | FC Porto | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 17 | Celtic | 5 | -1 | 7 |
| 25 | Nottm Forest | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 35 | Rangers | 4 | -7 | 0 |
| 33 | Malmo FF | 4 | -5 | 1 |
Full-time: Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys
Villa managed to hold on for the win and moved level on points with table-toppers Midtjylland at the peak of the competition table. Villa made hard work of that in the final stages.
90+1: Monteiro Pulls One Back
The Swiss side created a lifeline through Monteiro but were left with four more minutes to score the leveler!
Celtic Secure Victory
A significant and important win for the Celtic. Although they went 1-0 down, Celtic responded strongly with goals from Yang, Reo Hatate and Nygren.
Latest Action
Aston Villa, meanwhile, retained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with around five minutes left at Villa Park.
Malen's second goal there triggered intense reactions in the visitors' section, with visiting fans clashing with police. Scuffles broke out and projectiles hurled at both the authorities and at the playing surface, with the player being hit on the head by a drinking vessel.
Starting XI Revealed
Nottingham Forest: Victor, Abbott, Milenkovic, The defender, The full-back, The midfielder, Sangare, Dominguez, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo.
Malmö FF: Ellborg, The defender, The center-back, Duric, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, Skogmar, Bolin, The forward, Busanello.
Referee: Osmers (from Germany)
Lineups: Rangers vs Braga
The Light Blues: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Aarons, Barron, Diomande, The midfielder, Gassama, Danilo, Chermiti.
The Arsenalistas: Hornicek, The defender, The center-back, Niakate, The full-back, The midfielder, The experienced midfielder, The midfielder, The attacker, Navarro, The striker.
Referee: Lindhout (from Netherlands)
Historical Context
Nottingham Forest v Malmö and past encounters. The these sides have a historical link, also meeting in Forest's last European campaign in the 1995-96 Uefa Cup, but it is the continental championship from 1979 that entwines these two together, with Britain's first £1m player Francis heading the only goal of a rather dull championship game to secure historic victory for the red half of Nottingham.
"The legendary management duo, modestly dressed amid all the colour and celebration, stood for a moment on a bench calmly observing the mafficking," noted the journalist. This represented an outstanding achievement that it is unlikely to be replicated – from Second Division to European football in just three years."
One should note to consider Malmö, who became the pioneering and only Swedish club to make the championship match under English manager Bob Houghton.
This match is a distant from that summit, closer perhaps to the Uefa Cup first-round tie between Forest and Malmö in 1995-96. Forest are riding high after thrashing Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, while Malmö haven't kicked a competitive ball since 9 November following the end of the Swedish league season. The general expectation is on the English side tonight.
Plenty of other action on offer in this clockwatch. The Glasgow club have already been defeated by a Portuguese opponent this season. Rangers are at the foot of the league rankings at the middle of the group stage with precisely zero points. They desperately need a victory if they are to have any hope of making a recovery for a qualification place.
Updates will continue with all nine of the 8pm kick-offs and provide the current standings from the concluded fixtures, including Aston Villa v Young Boys and Rotterdam vs Glasgow.