FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest Prediction and Betting Tips

Nottingham Forest will resume their Europa League campaign when they face FC Utrecht at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Thursday evening.

Sean Dyche’s side claimed their second continental success of the season by making light work of Malmo in a 3-0 victory, in a game that brought up two of my three selections. The victory lifted the Tricky Trees up to 16th place in the Europa League standings.

Since then, Forest have fallen to Premier League defeats against both Brighton and Everton, either side of a 1-0 win over Wolves.

As for Utrecht, they are one of five teams that have yet to taste victory in this season’s Europa League, with their solitary point to date coming against Porto on matchday four.

However, Ron Jans’ side are ticking along nicely domestically, with Sunday’s 1-1 draw extending the hosts’ unbeaten run to five matches in the Eredivisie.

How the bookies view it: Forest firm favourites

Nottingham Forest are short-priced 7/10 favourites on bet365 as they look to claim back-to-back wins in the Europa League for the first time this season.

Having failed to win each of their opening five Europa League matches of the season, it’s no surprise to see that Utrecht have been priced up as 4/1 underdogs on bet365, while the draw is also deemed unlikely at 14/5 with the same firm.

Head to head: History book blank

FC Utrecht and Nottingham Forest will cross paths for the first time ever on Thursday evening.

Forest last came up against Dutch opposition way back in a 1983/84 UEFA Cup tie, with the Tricky Trees triumphing by an aggregate scoreline of 3-1.

Players to watch: Count on Kalimuendo

Arnaud Kalimuendo notched for Nottingham Forest during their aforementioned 3-0 win over Malmo, making the French forward worthy of consideration for either a goal or an assist on Thursday evening at 11/10 with PaddyPower.

Miguel Rodriguez made the net bulge during Utrecht’s last Europa League match away at Real Betis. The Spanish winger looks like decent value to repeat the trick here at 10/3 with PaddyPower.

Predicted line-ups

Davy van den Berg will miss out due to injury on Thursday evening, while Emirhan Demircan, Kolbeinn Finnsson, Noah Ohio and Victor Jensen have not been registered for the hosts’ Europa League squad.

Ryan Yates became the latest player to check into what is an ever-growing Nottingham Forest treatment room. The midfielder joins Angus Gunn, Chris Wood, Dilane Bakwa, Douglas Luiz, Ola Aina, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Taiwo Awoniyi on the sidelines for the visitors.

FC Utrecht: Barkas; Horemans, Van de Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Bozdogan, Ongena, De Wit; Rodriguez, Min, Cathline

Nottingham Forest: Victor; Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Dominguez, Sangare; Ndoye, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi; Kalimuendo

Anything else catch the eye?

Four of Utrecht’s five Europa League matches this season have featured under 2.5 goals, so a repeat on Thursday evening catches the eye at 19/20 with William Hill.

What’s more, this selection would have also proven profitable in two of Nottingham Forest’s three continental contests under Dyche’s watch.

Siding with a Forest success alongside under 4.5 goals also appeals at even-money (1/1) on bet365.

FC Utrecht vs Nottingham Forest Betting Tips & Predictions