Forest booed off after Cho header hands Midtjylland Europa League advantage
Thursday night's Europa League last-16 first legs delivered a mixed bag across the continent, with several home sides struggling to convert their dominance into goals and away teams proving clinical when it counted.
Forest fire blanks despite 22 shots
Nottingham Forest had 22 attempts on goal at the City Ground but could not find a way past Midtjylland goalkeeper Elias Rafn Olafsson. The Danish side made them pay in the 80th minute when Cho Gue-sung headed home the only goal of the game. Forest fans booed the team off at full time, and manager Vitor Pereira struggled to explain the result.
"We created so many chances to score," Pereira said afterwards. "Even if we were to draw, it would not have been fair. They had two chances, and they scored."
It was the second time this season that Midtjylland have beaten Forest at the City Ground, having also won 3-2 in the league phase back in October.
Watkins ends drought in Lille
Ollie Watkins headed Aston Villa in front in the 61st minute at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy to end a run without goals for the England striker. Villa were well organised throughout and head home with a narrow but deserved 1-0 lead. The return leg at Villa Park next Thursday gives Unai Emery's side a real chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Porto and Ferencvaros take control away from home
Porto won 2-1 in Stuttgart through goals from Terem Moffi and Rodrigo Mora, with Deniz Undav pulling one back for the hosts. Ferencvaros beat Braga 2-0 at the Groupama Arena in Budapest, with Gabi Kanichowsky scoring in the 32nd minute and Lenny Joseph adding a second in the 68th. Both sides will feel confident of finishing the job in the return legs.
Late goals settle tight ties
Endrick, on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid, rescued a 1-1 draw for the French side at Celta Vigo with a goal in the 87th minute after Javi Rueda had put the hosts ahead. Lyon also benefited from Borja Iglesias picking up a second yellow card for Celta in the second half.
Panathinaikos grabbed a last-gasp winner against Real Betis in Athens despite playing the final 30 minutes with 10 men. Anass Zaroury had been sent off for a second bookable offence, but Vicente Taborda converted a penalty in the 87th minute after Karol Swiderski was fouled by Diego Llorente, who was himself dismissed. A 1-0 win from that position felt like a steal.
Pellegrini rescues Roma in Bologna
The all-Italian affair between Bologna and Roma finished 1-1 at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Federico Bernardeschi gave Bologna the lead in the 50th minute, but substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini equalised for Roma in the 71st. Genk rounded off the evening with a 1-0 home win against Freiburg, Zakaria El Ouahdi scoring the only goal in the 24th minute.
Second legs take place on March 18, with Forest needing to overturn their deficit in Denmark and Villa looking to close things out at home.
