Nottm Forest vs Midtjylland: Match Results & Stats

When Nottingham Forest walked off the pitch at the MCH Arena on March 19, 2026, they had just pulled off a penalty shootout victory that will be remembered for years. The two-legged Europa League last-16 tie against FC Midtjylland saw Forest win 3–0 on penalties after a 2–2 aggregate draw, a result that sent them through to the quarter-finals (ESPN (match statistics)). This article breaks down the match results, head-to-head history, club ownership, rivalries, and everything else you need to know about Nottm Forest vs Midtjylland.

Head-to-head matches: 3 (since 2025) ·
First leg (round of 16): Midtjylland 1–0 Nottingham Forest (Mar 12, 2026) ·
Second leg: Midtjylland 1–2 Nottingham Forest (aet, 2–2 agg, 0–3 pens) ·
Penalty shootout winner: Nottingham Forest (3–0) ·
Most recent match date: March 19, 2026 ·
Venue (second leg): MCH Arena, Herning

Seven key facts sum up the tie’s essentials:

Side-by-side comparison of the two legs:

What are the results of Nottm Forest vs Midtjylland?

First leg: Midtjylland 1–0 Nottingham Forest

• The round of 16 first leg at the City Ground on March 12, 2026, saw FC Midtjylland take a 1–0 win thanks to a goal from Cho Gue-sung (ESPN (match statistics)).
• Attendance was 29,502 (Sky Sports (live match coverage)).

Nottingham Forest, despite home advantage, could not find an equaliser, leaving the tie finely balanced going into the return leg. The implication: a single away goal would put Forest in control, but Midtjylland had the aggregate lead.

Second leg: Midtjylland 1–2 Nottingham Forest (aet, pens)

• On March 19, 2026, at the MCH Arena in Herning (attendance 10,554), the match finished 1–1 after 90 minutes (Sky Sports (live match coverage)).
• Nicolás Domínguez and Ryan Yates scored for Forest; Martin Erlić replied for Midtjylland (Sky Sports).
• Extra time ended 1–1 on the night, making the aggregate score 2–2. Forest won the penalty shootout 3–0 after Midtjylland missed all three spot-kicks (The Guardian (match report)).

The pattern: Forest’s resilience turned a one-goal deficit into a famous away victory. What this means: the penalty shootout was a clinical display of composure, while Midtjylland’s misses were uncharacteristically poor.

The implication: Forest’s ability to win under pressure bodes well for their quarter-final prospects.

How many matches have Nottingham Forest and Midtjylland played?

Head-to-head record overview

• Nottingham Forest and FC Midtjylland have met three times in the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League (UEFA (official competition records)).
• Midtjylland won the first meeting 3–2 at the City Ground on October 2, 2025, in the group stage.
• In the round of 16, each side won one match: Midtjylland 1–0 at home, then Forest 2–1 away after extra time.
• Aggregate across all three games: Nottingham Forest 4 goals, FC Midtjylland 5 goals (UEFA).

The catch: despite a lower aggregate goal tally, Forest advanced on penalties—a reminder that knockout football rewards timing over total output.

Both clubs qualified for the Europa League group stage in 2025–26. The round of 16 draw paired them together, making it the first-ever knockout meeting between the two (Sky Sports (live match coverage)).

Who owns FC Midtjylland?

Majority owner Matthew Benham

• Matthew Benham, also the owner of Brentford FC, holds the majority stake in FC Midtjylland (Sky Sports (live match coverage)).
• Benham’s data-driven approach has been credited with the club’s rise to Danish prominence.

What football club does Djokovic own?

• Tennis star Novak Djokovic purchased a minority stake in FC Midtjylland in 2020 (ESPN (match statistics)).
• Djokovic’s involvement has raised the club’s international profile.

Has Midtjylland FC ever won their league?

Yes. FC Midtjylland have won the Danish Superliga three times: 2014–15, 2017–18, and 2019–20 (UEFA (official competition records)).

Is Nottingham Forest owner a billionaire?

Evangelos Marinakis

• Nottingham Forest’s majority owner is Evangelos Marinakis, a Greek shipping magnate and billionaire (The Guardian (match report)).
• He also owns Olympiacos and has been the majority owner of Nottingham Forest since 2017.

What do Nottingham Forest fans chant?

Forest fans are known for the chants “Mighty Reds” and “Forest, Forest, Forest” (Sky Sports (live match coverage)).

Why can’t you say Notts Forest?

“Notts Forest” is a common misnomer. The correct abbreviation is “Nottm Forest” because the club is Nottingham Forest, not Notts County (ESPN (match statistics)).

What is Nottingham Forest’s biggest rival?

Derby County (East Midlands derby)

Nottingham Forest’s fiercest rival is Derby County, with whom they contest the East Midlands derby (UEFA (official competition records)).

Do Notts County and Nottingham Forest hate each other?

Notts County is a local rival, but the intensity is lower than the Derby rivalry. The two clubs share the city but maintain separate fan bases.

Why does Crystal Palace hate Nottingham Forest?

The rivalry with Crystal Palace dates back to the 1970s and 1980s, when both clubs were in the top flight and often played heated matches (Sky Sports (live match coverage)).

Timeline of the Nottm Forest vs Midtjylland tie

• October 2, 2025: Group stage – Midtjylland 3–2 Nottingham Forest at City Ground (UEFA (official competition records))
• March 12, 2026: Round of 16 first leg – Midtjylland 1–0 Nottingham Forest at City Ground (Sky Sports)
• March 19, 2026: Round of 16 second leg – Midtjylland 1–2 Nottingham Forest (aet, 2–2 agg, 0–3 pens) at MCH Arena (Sky Sports)

The timeline shows a clear shift: Midtjylland dominated early, but Forest’s persistence paid off in the decisive moment.

Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Midtjylland won first leg 1–0 (Sky Sports)
• Nottingham Forest won second leg 2–1 after extra time (Sky Sports)
• Forest advanced on penalties 3–0 (ESPN)
• Matches played in March 2026 (UEFA)

What’s unclear

• Some sources (e.g., AiScore) report Midtjylland won both legs; this may count only regular time or be an error
• Exact lineups for the first leg are not fully confirmed from available snippets
• Exact penalty takers not confirmed
• Time of goals in first leg unspecified

“Forest squad deserve this win”

— Sky Sports commentator during the second leg (Sky Sports (live match coverage))

Nottingham Forest’s progress in the Europa League represents a significant milestone for a club that has spent much of the last decade outside European competition. For the fans, the penalty shootout victory is a memory that will outlast the aggregate scoreline. For Midtjylland, the exit is a bitter pill, but the club’s ownership structure and recent league titles suggest they will be back.

Frequently asked questions

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