Nottingham Forest eye Europa League 'dream'

Nottingham Forest remain mired in a Premier League relegation battle, yet today’s Europa League quarter‑final in Porto offers Igor Jesus and his teammates a rare escape. Manager Vítor Pereira has openly prioritised top‑flight survival, resting several starters in the last‑16 shoot‑out win over Midtjylland, but Europe has consistently brought out Forest’s best. No player reflects that contrast more sharply than Igor Jesus.

Signed from Botafogo last summer, the 25‑year‑old has managed only three goals in 30 league matches but sits joint‑top of the Europa League scoring charts with seven. “Winning the Europa League as top scorer would be a dream,” he told UEFA, while acknowledging Porto’s quality and the difficulty of the task ahead. Forest, 16th in the Premier League, travel to the Estádio do Dragão determined to secure a result they can defend at home. Their one source of comfort: they remain the only team to beat Porto in Europe this season, a 2‑0 win in the league phase.