Forest vs Malmö, Rangers v Braga, and Additional – Europa League News

League Position

The initial outcomes strongly influence the competition standings. Celtic have moved up to 17th position and returned to the secure playoff places.

Final Score: Aston Villa 2-1

Aston Villa secured for the victory and went equal on points with table-toppers Midtjylland at the peak of the league phase standings. Villa had difficulty of that at the end.

90+1: Monteiro Pulls One Back

Young Boys gave themselves a hope through Monteiro but only have additional time to find an equaliser!

Celtic Secure Victory

A significant and important win for the Scottish team. Despite going 1-0 down, Celtic responded strongly with goals from the Korean forward, the Japanese midfielder and the Swedish striker.

Latest Action

The Birmingham side, concurrently, held onto a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with around five minutes left at Villa Park.

Malen's second goal there triggered intense reactions in the opposition stands, with visiting fans confronting police. Punches were thrown and objects thrown at both the officers and onto the pitch, with the goalscorer being struck in the head by a throwable object.

Lineups: Forest vs Malmö

Forest: John Victor, The defender, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, The midfielder, Sangare, Dominguez, McAtee, The winger, Kalimuendo.

Malmö: The goalkeeper, Larsen, Jansson, Duric, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, The midfielder, Bolin, The forward, Busanello.

Match official: Osmers (from Germany)

Team News: Rangers v Braga

The Glasgow side: The goalkeeper, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Aarons, Barron, Diomande, The midfielder, The attacker, Danilo, Chermiti.

Braga: Hornicek, The defender, Lagerbielke, The defender, Arrey-Mbi, The midfielder, Joao Moutinho, Gorby, The attacker, Navarro, Ricardo Horta.

Match official: Lindhout (Netherlands)

Historical Context

The European clash and memories of 1979. The these sides have a unique relationship, also competing in Forest's last European campaign in the 1995-96 Uefa Cup, but it is the European Cup final from 1979 that entwines these two together, with the record-breaking signing Trevor Francis netting the decisive goal of a rather dull championship game to clinch eternal glory for the Forest supporters.

"The legendary management duo, modestly dressed amid all the colour and celebration, stood for a moment on a bench serenely viewing the celebrations," noted the journalist. Theirs has been an extraordinary accomplishment that it is hard to see being repeated – from second tier to continental competition in a short period."

One should note to pause a little on Malmö, who became the first, and to date the last Nordic team to reach the final under English manager Bob Houghton.

Tonight's game is a far cry from that peak, closer perhaps to the previous continental meeting between Forest and Malmö in 1995-96. Forest are riding high after beating Liverpool 3-0 at Liverpool's home on Saturday, while Malmö haven't played officially since last month following the completion of Allsvenskan. The popular prediction is on the home team tonight.

Numerous other matches on offer in this clockwatch. The Glasgow club have already been beaten by a Portuguese opponent this season. Rangers are last place of the competition table at the middle of the initial phase with precisely zero points. They urgently require a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a recovery for a knockout position.

Updates will continue with all the late games and provide the most recent results from the concluded fixtures, including Aston Villa v Young Boys and Feyenoord v Celtic.