Fenerbahce 0-3 Nottingham Forest: Vitor Pereira enjoys perfect start to put his side in control of Europa League knockout tie
Match report as Nottingham Forest beat Fenerbahce 3-0 in the first leg of their Europa League knock-out play-off; Vitor Pereira secures the perfect start after winning first game, just four days after being appointed; Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White scored on the evening
Thursday 19 February 2026 20:30, UK
Vitor Pereira secured the perfect start to his reign at Nottingham Forest as his side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win against Fenerbahce in the first leg of the Europa League knockout play-off.
Despite only being appointed as Sean Dyche's successor four days prior, Pereira snapped Forest's three-game winless run to put them firmly in control of the tie and on the verge of sealing a round of 16 clash against Real Betis or Midtjylland.
Pereira made two minor changes to Dyche's final line-up and used the same formation but Forest looked vastly improved from kick-off and took a deserved lead when Murillo's long-range strike kick-started the new era in emphatic style.
The centre back, who was one of two changes made by Pereira in his first line-up, picked the ball up near the halfway line before driving forward unchallenged and rifling his shot into the bottom right corner.
Forest's dominance continued from there and they would add a second just before the break when Morgan Gibbs-White's flick on from a corner was nodded in by Igor Jesus at the back-post.
The same pairing would link up once again after the restart but it was the Brazil forward who turned provider on this occasion, squaring the ball to Gibbs-White to sweep home a third goal for Forest to seal an impressive first win for Pereira against the team he managed on two separate occasions earlier in his career.
A win and a clean sheet in Europe while being unfazed by a hostile reception in Istanbul is an impressive start to the new regime at the City Ground but Pereira's side now face a quick turnaround before their next test against Liverpool, live on Sky Sports, this Sunday.
The second leg of the knock-out tie then follows at the City Ground on February 26.
Pereira: We deserved the win, players showed their quality
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira speaking to TNT Sports:
"The quality of the players [I liked the most]. I asked them to express themselves on the pitch. They did it.
"We had a chance to score two more goals. It was a very good result. It is only half-time, we need to be consistent, the schedule is tight and difficult. Everyone must be ready to help the team. This is what I ask them.
"It was a consistent game for us. We deserved the result.
"I realised before I came that the players have a lot of quality. They need results but they need to enjoy the game. If they enjoy the way they are playing they can have a high level. They need just organisation and confidence."
Gibbs-White: We have an identity now
Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White speaking to TNT Sports:
"We had a real identity out there today. We defended incredibly and created so many chances, it could've been more. The job is not done yet. We need to prepare well and go again.
"His message to us is we are going to have an identity of how we play and defend as a team, we have bought into what he wants straight away.
"We showed it in abundance today. It is about taking it game by game. We needed a clean sheet and a win, today was the perfect moment.
"It was an all-round incredible day."
New-look Forest impress but will it translate to the Premier League?
Sky Sports' Patrick Rowe:
"The personnel and formation were the same but the football and end product point to a manager who is already making a difference, just four days into his time at the club.
"From minute one, Forest looked to have more intent and more of a cutting edge in the final third, which was made all the more impressive considering the hostile reception in Istanbul.
"Murillo's opener was a stunner but it was deserved. After the lead had been taken, they never looked like relinquishing it and could have easily added to their tally.
"A stark contrast to the team who couldn't make one of their 35 shots against Wolves count in Sean Dyche's final game in charge.
"If Forest can replicate that performance in the Premier League across the final 12 games, fears of relegation will be a distant memory."
