Malmö vs Nottingham Forest, Rangers vs Braga, and More – UEFA Europa League Updates
Match Coverage
Key Events
- Full-time: Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys
- Score!: Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys (Joël Monteiro 90+1)
- Match concluded: Feyenoord defeated 1-3 by Celtic
- Team news: Forest and Malmö lineups
- Starting players: Rangers and Braga lineups
- Introduction
Current Table
These early results strongly influence the league rankings. Celtic have moved up to 17th place and returned to the protected playoff places.
| Position | Side | Matches | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Aston Villa secured for the three points and went equal on points with front-runners Midtjylland at the summit of the league phase standings. The Birmingham club made hard work of that at the end.
90+1: Monteiro Pulls One Back
The Swiss side created a chance through Monteiro but had just additional time to find an equaliser!
Celtic Secure Victory
A famous and valuable win for the Celtic. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic fought back with goals from Yang Hyun-jun, the Japanese midfielder and Nygren.
Match Updates
The Birmingham side, at the same time, held onto a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with around five minutes left at the stadium.
Malen's second goal there triggered intense reactions in the opposition stands, with Young Boys supporters clashing with police. Scuffles broke out and projectiles hurled at both the police and at the playing surface, with the goalscorer being hit on the head by a plastic cup.
Lineups: Forest vs Malmö
Nottingham Forest: The goalkeeper, Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, Yates, Sangare, The midfielder, McAtee, The winger, Kalimuendo.
Malmö FF: Ellborg, The defender, Jansson, Duric, The full-back, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, The midfielder, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, The striker.
Match official: Osmers (German)
Starting Players
The Glasgow side: Butland, Tavernier, The center-back, The defender, Aarons, Barron, Diomande, The midfielder, Gassama, The forward, Chermiti.
Braga: Hornicek, Gomez, Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, The midfielder, The experienced midfielder, Gorby, Martinez, Navarro, The striker.
Referee: Lindhout (Netherlands)
Match Background
Forest vs Malmö and memories of 1979. The two clubs have a historical link, also competing in Forest's most recent continental tour in the UEFA Cup of 1995-96, but it is the European Cup final from 1979 that connects these teams, with the groundbreaking transfer Francis heading the only goal of a largely forgettable match to clinch eternal glory for the red half of Nottingham.
"Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, modestly dressed amid all the colour and celebration, stood for a moment on a bench quietly watching the mafficking," wrote the match reporter. This represented an remarkable feat that it is hard to see being repeated – from second tier to European stage in just three years."
Worth mentioning to reflect upon Malmö, who became the first, and to date the last Swedish club to make the championship match under manager Houghton.
This match is a far cry from that pinnacle, closer perhaps to the earlier European encounter between Forest and Malmö in 1995-96. Forest are full of confidence after beating Liverpool 3-0 at Liverpool's home on Saturday, while Malmö haven't kicked a competitive ball since 9 November following the completion of Allsvenskan. The general expectation is on the English side tonight.
Plenty of other action on offer in this match tracking. Rangers have already been lost to a Braga this season. Rangers are at the foot of the league rankings at the half-way stage of the initial phase with no points whatsoever. They badly want a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a recovery for a knockout position.
Updates will continue with all nine of the 8pm kick-offs and provide the most recent results from the previous games, including Aston Villa v Young Boys and Rotterdam vs Glasgow.
