Malmö vs Nottingham Forest, Braga vs Rangers, and More – Europa League Coverage
Match Coverage
Key Events
- Full-time: Villa 2-1 Young Boys
- Goal scored!: Late goal from Monteiro makes it 2-1
- Full-time: Feyenoord defeated 1-3 by Celtic
- Team news: Nottingham Forest v Malmö teams!
- Starting players: Rangers v Braga teams!
- Opening notes
Current Table
These early results greatly affect the competition standings. Celtic have moved up to the 17th spot and returned to the secure qualification spots.
| Rank | Club | Played | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midtjylland | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | Freiburg | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 4 | Ferencvaros | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| 5 | FC Porto | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 17 | Celtic | 5 | -1 | 7 |
| 25 | Nottm Forest | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 35 | Rangers | 4 | -7 | 0 |
| 33 | Malmo FF | 4 | -5 | 1 |
Full-time: Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys
The English side clung on for the three points and became tied on points with front-runners Midtjylland at the summit of the league phase standings. The English side made hard work of that in the final stages.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys (Joël Monteiro 90+1)
Young Boys earned a hope through Monteiro but had just stoppage time to get the tying goal!
Celtic Secure Victory
A memorable and crucial win for the Scottish team. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic responded strongly with goals from Yang, Hatate and Benjamin Nygren.
Match Updates
Villa, meanwhile, maintained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with around five minutes left at Villa Park.
Malen's double there sparked furious scenes in the visitors' section, with Young Boys supporters clashing with police. Punches were thrown and objects thrown at both the police and onto the pitch, with Malen himself being struck in the head by a drinking vessel.
Team News: Nottingham Forest v Malmö
Forest: Victor, Abbott, The center-back, The defender, The full-back, The midfielder, The defensive midfielder, Dominguez, McAtee, The winger, Kalimuendo.
Malmö FF: Ellborg, The defender, Jansson, Duric, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, Skogmar, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, Busanello.
Official: Harm Osmers (Germany)
Starting Players
The Light Blues: Butland, The defender, Fernandez, Djiga, Aarons, Barron, Diomande, The midfielder, Gassama, The forward, Chermiti.
The Arsenalistas: Hornicek, The defender, Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Zalazar, Moutinho, The midfielder, Martinez, Navarro, The striker.
Referee: Allard Lindhout (Holland)
Historical Context
Nottingham Forest v Malmö and historical connections. The these sides have a unique relationship, also meeting in Forest's previous European adventure in the 1995-96 Uefa Cup, but it is the European Cup final from 1979 that connects these teams, with Britain's first £1m player the English forward heading the only goal of a largely forgettable match to claim legendary status for the Forest supporters.
"The legendary management duo, modestly dressed amid all the excitement and joy, stood for a moment on a bench quietly watching the celebrations," commented the writer. Their achievement was an remarkable feat that it is difficult to imagine happening again – from Second Division to European football in just three years."
It's also interesting to reflect upon Malmö, who became the first, and to date the last Swedish club to reach the final under British coach Houghton.
This match is a far cry from that summit, closer perhaps to the Uefa Cup first-round tie between Forest and Malmö in that era. Forest are riding high after thrashing Liverpool at Liverpool's home on Saturday, while Malmö have been inactive since 9 November following the end of the Swedish league season. The popular prediction is on the home team tonight.
Plenty of other action on offer in this clockwatch. The Scottish side have already been lost to a Portuguese opponent this season. Rangers are at the foot of the 36-team Europa League standings at the midpoint of the league phase with no points whatsoever. They badly want a victory if they are to have any hope of making a late surge for a playoff spot.
Updates will continue with all the late games and provide the latest scores from the earlier matches, including the Birmingham match and the Dutch-Scottish clash.
