Malmö vs Nottingham Forest, Rangers v Braga, and Additional – Europa League Updates
Match Coverage
Key Events
- Full-time: Villa 2-1 Young Boys
- Goal scored!: Joël Monteiro scores for Young Boys at 90+1
- Game over: Feyenoord defeated 1-3 by Celtic
- Starting XI: Nottingham Forest v Malmö teams!
- Team news: Starting XI for Rangers vs Braga
- Introduction
Current Table
The initial outcomes strongly influence the Europa League table. Celtic climbed to 17th position and are back in the safety of playoff places.
| Position | Team | Matches | Goal Difference | 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
Aston Villa secured for the victory and became tied on points with leaders Midtjylland at the top of the league phase standings. The English side made hard work of that in the final stages.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys (Joël Monteiro 90+1)
Young Boys gave themselves a lifeline through Monteiro but were left with stoppage time to get the tying goal!
Celtic Secure Victory
A memorable and crucial win for the Scottish team. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic roared back with goals from Yang, Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren.
Latest Action
Aston Villa, at the same time, retained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with approximately five minutes left at Villa Park.
Malen's double there caused dramatic events in the visitors' section, with Swiss fans clashing with police. Scuffles broke out and items launched at both the police and at the playing surface, with the player being hit on the head by a plastic cup.
Lineups: Forest vs Malmö
Nottingham Forest: Victor, Abbott, Milenkovic, The defender, The full-back, Yates, Sangare, Dominguez, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo.
The Swedish side: Ellborg, The defender, Jansson, Duric, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, Skogmar, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, Busanello.
Match official: The German referee (from Germany)
Starting Players
Rangers: Butland, The defender, The center-back, Djiga, The full-back, Barron, Diomande, Raskin, Gassama, The forward, The striker.
The Arsenalistas: Hornicek, The defender, Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Zalazar, Joao Moutinho, The midfielder, The attacker, Navarro, Horta.
Match official: The Dutch referee (from Netherlands)
Match Background
Nottingham Forest v Malmö and past encounters. The these sides have a special connection, also competing in Forest's previous European adventure in the mid-90s European competition, but it is the continental championship 46 years ago that entwines these two together, with the groundbreaking transfer Trevor Francis scoring the winner of a pretty miserable final to claim legendary status for the red half of Nottingham.
"The legendary management duo, unassuming and low-key amid all the festivities and cheers, stood for a moment on a bench calmly observing the mafficking," wrote the match reporter. Their achievement was an remarkable feat that it is difficult to imagine happening again – from second tier to continental competition in a short period."
One should note to reflect upon Malmö, who became the pioneering and only Scandinavian side to advance to the ultimate game under British coach Houghton.
Tonight's game is a far cry from that summit, closer perhaps to the earlier European encounter between Forest and Malmö in the mid-nineties. Forest are full of confidence after thrashing Liverpool at Liverpool's home on Saturday, while Malmö haven't played officially since 9 November following the conclusion of their domestic campaign. The smart money is on the English side tonight.
Additional games on offer in this live coverage. The Glasgow club have already been beaten by a Braga this season. Rangers are at the foot of the 36-team Europa League standings at the half-way stage of the initial phase with exactly zero. They urgently require a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a recovery for a knockout position.
Coverage will persist 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.
