Nottingham Forest Football Club vs. Futebol Clube do Porto Prediction on October 23, 2025

Match info

The upcoming 2025–26 UEFA Europa League league-phase match within matchweek 3 between England’s Nottingham Forest Football Club and Portugal’s Futebol Clube do Porto carries considerable weight for both clubs. For Nottingham Forest, this is their return to European competition after a lengthy absence: the 2025–26 campaign marks their first participation in a major UEFA competition in nearly three decades – this time, it’s the second-tier European men’s football club competition, whose ongoing edition is the 17th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League.

Nottingham Forest will be eager to establish themselves on the continental stage and prove they can compete beyond domestic commitments. For Porto, a club built on European pedigree and used to being among the leading Portuguese and continental sides, this match is part of the mission to advance through the league phase and maintain their status as a serious contender. The match is also likely to have implications for the standings: securing a home win is vital, and any slip-up at home could threaten progression.

In effect, the game, which is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, 2025, with a kick-off time of 20:00 BST (8 p.m. British Summer Time, the local time zone) at Nottiingham Forest’s home ground, The City Ground, in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England, UK, reflects a clash between an ambitious upward-moving English side and a seasoned continental competitor.

Meeting statistics

Current form and playing style: Nottingham Forest Football Club

Coming into this match, “Forest” have enjoyed the momentum of recent success in England, but their 2025–26 start has been challenging. They qualified for Europe on the back of an excellent 2024–25 season (finishing seventh in the Premier League).

However, entering this match, they’ve had a managerial change and shaken foundations. Stylistically, the club is undergoing a transition: under their previous regime, they played a more pragmatic, counter-attacking, transition-based style (particularly under Nuno Espirito Santo), and now, under incoming influences, the emphasis is shifting toward higher possession, a more upright attacking structure. The squad is still adapting to this shift, and inconsistency is evident as they juggle domestic (W1-D2-L5) and European commitments (0W-1D-1L). That’s why it’s strange that, looking at the odds, almost every Europe bookie favors the Premier League side against Porto.

Current form and playing style: Futebol Clube do Porto

“Dragons” enter with greater continuity and European experience. The club typically emphasizes control of possession, progression through midfield, and attacking down the flanks, especially using full-backs/wing-backs to create overloads: short passes, possession football, control the game in the opposition’s half, attack through the middle, and attacking down the left.

Under coach Francesco Farioli (as of 2025–26), they seek to impose themselves, and one review noted that Porto’s midfield actions are the key to allowing them to overcome opponent pressing. Their recent form in the Europa League is strong: for instance, they’ve won their opening two league-phase matches and sit atop in the standings with maximum points, along with six more clubs.

Head-to-head

Surprisingly, despite both clubs’ histories, this will be a relatively fresh matchup: the records show that Nottingham Forest and Porto haven’t faced each other in a competitive European fixture previously. As such, there’s no historical “template” or past direct clashes to draw detailed conclusions from. This adds a layer of novelty and unpredictability — both teams will need to feel each other out without prior head-to-head baggage.

Match analytics

This clash is shaping up as a true contrast in styles and experience. Nottingham Forest, revitalized by their European return, will rely heavily on The City Ground’s electric atmosphere. Historically, English clubs performing in front of home fans in continental fixtures have managed to over-perform, feeding off intensity and emotion. Forest’s energetic pressing and quick transitions—anchored by their attacking trio’s mobility—can threaten even the most disciplined defenses.

However, Porto bring something Forest currently lack: continental calmness and tournament maturity. They are experts at “controlling chaos,” able to absorb pressure and strike through methodical midfield play. Expect Porto to keep the ball for long spells, exploiting central overloads and switching flanks to drag Forest’s defense out of shape. The Portuguese side’s set-piece routines and fluid positional rotations (especially from their left-side combinations) could be decisive.

Their technical superiority, midfield control, and experience make Porto slight favorites even away from home and bookmakers’ odds.

Tip: 1x2 & both teams to score, FC Porto & yes, at 4.9 odds on JoyCasino Sport.