Fenerbahçe will face Nottingham Forest for the first time in European action in this tie, while they’ve won just one of their last nine matches against English sides (D2 L6 – inc. qualifiers).
This is the first knockout tie between English and Turkish opponents since the 2014-15 UEFA Europa League last 32, when Liverpool faced Besiktas. Both teams won 1-0 at home across the two legs, with Besiktas progressing after a penalty shootout win.
Fenerbahçe have lost the first leg in four of their last six major European knockout ties (W2). In fact, they’ve never progressed from a major European tie when they have lost the first leg, going out on all 26 occasions.
Nottingham Forest have netted 15 goals in eight UEFA Europa League matches this season – only in their 1978-79 victorious European Cup campaign have scored more in a major European season (19 in 9 games).
Igor Jesus has scored six goals for Nottingham Forest in the UEFA Europa League this season, the joint most by a Forest player in a major European season along with Garry Birtles in the 1978-79 European Cup (6 in 9 games). The last Brazilian to score more in a UEFA Europa League campaign was Giuliano for Zenit in 2016-17 (8).