Forest vs Malmö, Rangers v Braga, and Additional – UEFA Europa League News
Match Coverage
Key Events
- Full-time: Young Boys 1-2 Aston Villa
- Score!: Late goal from Monteiro makes it 2-1
- Full-time: Celtic 3-1 Feyenoord
- Team news: Nottingham Forest v Malmö teams!
- Starting players: Rangers v Braga teams!
- Opening notes
League Position
The initial outcomes greatly affect the league rankings. Celtic have moved up to 17th place and returned to the protected knockout positions.
| Position | Club | Matches | 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 |
Final Score: Aston Villa 2-1
Villa managed to hold on for the victory and went equal on points with leaders Midtjylland at the top of the group rankings. The English side struggled of that at the end.
Late Goal: Monteiro Scores
The Swiss side created a hope through Monteiro but only have additional time to score the leveler!
Celtic Secure Victory
A significant and important win for the Celtic. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic fought back with goals from Yang, Hatate and the Swedish striker.
Latest Action
Villa, at the same time, retained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with approximately five minutes left at their home ground.
Malen's second goal there caused dramatic events in the visitors' section, with Young Boys supporters confronting police. Physical altercations occurred and items launched at both the officers and toward the field, with Malen himself being struck in the head by a plastic cup.
Starting XI Revealed
Nottingham Forest: Victor, Abbott, Milenkovic, The defender, The full-back, Yates, The defensive midfielder, Dominguez, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo.
Malmö: Ellborg, Stryger Larsen, Jansson, Duric, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, The midfielder, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, Busanello.
Official: Osmers (German)
Team News: Rangers v Braga
The Glasgow side: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Aarons, Barron, Diomande, Raskin, Gassama, The forward, Chermiti.
The Portuguese side: Hornicek, The defender, Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Zalazar, Moutinho, The midfielder, Martinez, Navarro, The striker.
Official: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)
Historical Context
The European clash and past encounters. The these sides have a historical link, also facing each other in Forest's most recent continental tour in the UEFA Cup of 1995-96, but it is the premier competition final from 1979 that entwines these two together, with the record-breaking signing the English forward netting the decisive goal of a largely forgettable match to claim legendary status for the the English club.
"The legendary management duo, modestly dressed amid all the excitement and joy, stood for a moment on a bench quietly watching the revelry," noted the journalist. Their achievement was an extraordinary accomplishment that it is difficult to imagine happening again – from the lower league to European stage in just three years."
It's also interesting to pause a little on Malmö, who became the first, and to date the last Swedish club to reach the final under British coach Houghton.
This match is a very different to that peak, closer perhaps to the previous continental meeting between Forest and Malmö in the mid-nineties. Forest are absolutely buzzing after thrashing Liverpool at Liverpool's home 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.
Numerous other matches on offer in this live coverage. Rangers have already been defeated by a Portuguese opponent this season. Rangers are at the foot of the 36-team Europa League standings at the middle of the league phase with precisely zero points. They urgently require a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a late surge for a qualification place.
We'll keep you up to date with all the late games and provide the most recent results from the previous games, including Villa vs Young Boys and Feyenoord v Celtic.
