Malmö vs Nottingham Forest, Rangers vs Braga, and More – UEFA Europa League Updates

Current Table

The opening scores strongly influence the competition standings. The Glasgow side rose to the 17th spot and returned to the secure playoff places.

Full-time: Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys

The English side clung on for the win and became tied on points with table-toppers Midtjylland at the top of the league phase standings. The English side struggled of that during the closing minutes.

Late Goal: Monteiro Scores

The Swiss side created a lifeline through Monteiro but had just stoppage time to get the tying goal!

Full-time: Feyenoord 1-3 Celtic

A memorable and crucial win for the Scottish team. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic responded strongly with goals from the Korean forward, the Japanese midfielder and Benjamin Nygren.

Game Developments

Villa, concurrently, held onto a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with around five minutes left at their home ground.

Malen's second goal there triggered intense reactions in the away end, with Young Boys supporters clashing with police. Physical altercations occurred and objects thrown at both the police and onto the pitch, with Malen himself being hit on the head by a drinking vessel.

Lineups: Forest vs Malmö

Forest: The goalkeeper, The defender, Milenkovic, The defender, Morato, Yates, Sangare, The midfielder, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, The striker.

The Swedish side: The goalkeeper, The defender, Jansson, The defender, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, The midfielder, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, The striker.

Official: Osmers (German)

Starting Players

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, The full-back, Barron, The midfielder, Raskin, Gassama, Danilo, Chermiti.

The Portuguese side: Hornicek, Gomez, Lagerbielke, Niakate, The full-back, The midfielder, Moutinho, The midfielder, Martinez, Navarro, Ricardo Horta.

Official: Lindhout (Netherlands)

Match Background

Nottingham Forest v Malmö and memories of 1979. The both teams have a special connection, also competing in Forest's previous European adventure in the UEFA Cup of 1995-96, but it is the European Cup final from 1979 that connects these teams, with the record-breaking signing the English forward netting the decisive goal of a rather dull championship game to claim legendary status for the the English club.

"Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, grey-sweatered and anonymous amid all the excitement and joy, stood for a moment on a bench quietly watching the celebrations," noted the journalist. This represented an remarkable feat that it is unlikely to be replicated – from Second Division to European football in just three years."

Worth mentioning to pause a little on Malmö, who became the initial and final Nordic team to advance to the ultimate game under British coach Houghton.

This match is a far cry from that pinnacle, closer perhaps to the previous continental meeting between Forest and Malmö in the mid-nineties. Forest are absolutely buzzing after thrashing Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, while Malmö haven't played officially since early November following the completion of Allsvenskan. The general expectation is on the home team tonight.

Plenty of other action on offer in this clockwatch. The Scottish side have already been beaten by a Braga this season. Rangers are last place of the league rankings at the middle of the league phase with precisely zero points. They badly want a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a comeback for a playoff spot.

Updates will continue with all nine of the 8pm kick-offs and provide the most recent results from the earlier matches, including the Birmingham match and Rotterdam vs Glasgow.