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

Current Table

The opening scores strongly influence the Europa League table. Celtic have moved up to 17th place and are back in the secure playoff places.

Match Result: Villa 2-1 Young Boys

The English side clung on for the victory and moved level on points with front-runners Midtjylland at the top of the league phase standings. The Birmingham club struggled of that at the end.

Late Goal: Monteiro Scores

Young Boys gave themselves a lifeline through Monteiro but only have stoppage time to find an equaliser!

Celtic Secure Victory

A famous and valuable win for the Glasgow side. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic roared back with goals from Yang Hyun-jun, the Japanese midfielder and Benjamin Nygren.

Latest Action

The Birmingham side, concurrently, retained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with around five minutes left at their home ground.

Malen's double there sparked furious scenes in the visitors' section, with Swiss fans confronting police. Scuffles broke out and items launched at both the officers and onto the pitch, with Malen himself being caught on the head by a plastic cup.

Lineups: Forest vs Malmö

The Reds: The goalkeeper, Abbott, The center-back, Murillo, Morato, Yates, Sangare, The midfielder, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo.

The Swedish side: The goalkeeper, The defender, The center-back, Duric, Rosler, The midfielder, Johnsen, Skogmar, The attacker, The forward, Busanello.

Match official: Osmers (from Germany)

Starting Players

The Light Blues: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, The defender, The full-back, Barron, Diomande, The midfielder, Gassama, Danilo, Chermiti.

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

Official: The Dutch referee (Holland)

Historical Context

Forest vs Malmö and historical connections. The both teams have a unique relationship, also competing in Forest's last European campaign in the mid-90s European competition, but it is the premier competition final 46 years ago that links these clubs, with the groundbreaking transfer Francis scoring the winner of a pretty miserable final to claim legendary status for the Forest supporters.

"The legendary management duo, unassuming and low-key amid all the excitement and joy, stood for a moment on a bench calmly observing the celebrations," wrote the match reporter. Their achievement was an remarkable feat that it is difficult to imagine happening again – from second tier to European football in just three years."

Worth mentioning to pause a little on Malmö, who became the pioneering and only Nordic team to reach the final 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 that era. Forest are full of confidence after thrashing Liverpool at the famous ground on Saturday, while Malmö have been inactive since early November following the completion of Allsvenskan. The smart money is on the home team tonight.

Numerous other matches on offer in this clockwatch. The Scottish side have already been defeated by a Braga this season. Rangers are at the foot of the league rankings at the middle of the league phase with exactly zero. They desperately need a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a recovery for a playoff spot.

We'll keep you up to date with all the late games and provide the latest scores from the earlier matches, including the Birmingham match and Feyenoord v Celtic.