Midtjylland vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Danes overpriced to put Forest’s fire out

Nottingham Forest have it all to do when they travel to Midtjylland in Denmark in Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg (KO 17:45 GMT, TNT Sports 2) trailing 1-0 from the first game at the City Ground.

Midtjylland possess an excellent home record in continental competition and the relegation-threatened Premier League side will need a massive performance to turn this one around. Below are my Midtjylland vs Nottingham Forest predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Midtjylland striker Franculino has 21 goals to his name this season but misses out here with a knee problem, leaving the Danes without their leading goalscorer. Winger Mikel Gogorza is another absentee for the hosts.

Full-back Dario Osorio is available after suspension, while Gue-sung Cho was the match-winning substitute at the City Ground and could earn a start.

Forest are without the services of Stefan Ortega (calf), Nicolo Savona, Chris Wood, John Victor and Willy Boly (all knee), while Jair Cunha was taken off injured in the first leg and sat out the weekend stalemate with Fulham.

Neco Williams, Nikola Milenkovic and Ibrahim Sangare were all on the bench for the first leg and could come into contention for starts.

Midtjylland vs Nottingham Forest Odds

Midtjylland have beaten Nottingham Forest on two occasions this season already and the Danish side are 11/5 to complete a hat-trick of wins.

The Tricky Trees can be backed at 23/20 to get the win in 90 minutes and the draw trades at 13/5.

Over 2.5 goals in this Europa League contest is priced at 4/5, with both teams to score available at 4/6.

Midtjylland to win (90 mins) @ 11/5

Midtjylland are going for a third win of the season over Forest and it's a surprise to find they are major underdogs to get it.

The Tricky Trees were wasteful having had 22 shots at goal in the first leg and that late strike from Gue-sung Cho could be very costly for Vitor Pereira and his side.

A 3-0 win over Fenerbahce in this competition signalled a strong start for Pereira, but his Forest side are now winless in six games.

Midtjylland, meanwhile, have won 11 of their last 13 European fixtures and have lost just one of 22 at home this season.

Forest minds could be drifting towards their relegation six-pointer with Spurs on Sunday and their Europa League odyssey may end in another defeat to the Danes.

Philip Billing to receive a card @ 9/5

Midfielder Philip Billing has Premier League experience from his time with Bournemouth and he was quite the card magnet during his time on the south coast, earning 30 yellow cards in his first three seasons with the Cherries.

The 29-year-old was excellent in the first leg at the heart of the Midtjylland engine room facing into 11 duels.

He's got three cautions in eight Europa League games and was booked in domestic action either side of the first leg against Forest. He may fall foul of the officials again.

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