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

Latest Standings

The initial outcomes have significant impact on the Europa League table. The Glasgow side rose to 17th position and returned to the secure knockout positions.

Full-time: Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys

Villa managed to hold on for the three points and moved level on points with leaders Midtjylland at the summit of the league phase standings. The English side made hard work of that in the final stages.

Late Goal: Monteiro Scores

The Swiss side created a hope through Monteiro but had just additional time to score the leveler!

Celtic Secure Victory

A memorable and crucial win for the Glasgow side. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic fought back with goals from the Korean forward, Reo Hatate and the Swedish striker.

Match Updates

The Birmingham side, meanwhile, maintained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with approximately five minutes left at Villa Park.

Malen's double there caused dramatic events in the opposition stands, with visiting fans engaging with police. Punches were thrown and objects thrown at both the officers and onto the pitch, with the goalscorer being hit on the head by a drinking vessel.

Lineups: Forest vs Malmö

Nottingham Forest: The goalkeeper, The defender, The center-back, The defender, Morato, The midfielder, Sangare, The midfielder, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, The striker.

The Swedish side: Ellborg, Stryger Larsen, The center-back, The defender, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, Skogmar, Bolin, The forward, Busanello.

Referee: Harm Osmers (from Germany)

Lineups: Rangers vs Braga

Rangers: Butland, The defender, Fernandez, The defender, The full-back, The midfielder, Diomande, The midfielder, Gassama, The forward, Chermiti.

Braga: Hornicek, Gomez, Lagerbielke, The defender, Arrey-Mbi, The midfielder, The experienced midfielder, The midfielder, Martinez, Navarro, The striker.

Referee: Allard Lindhout (Holland)

Preamble

Nottingham Forest v Malmö and historical connections. The these sides have a special connection, also facing each other in Forest's last European campaign in the mid-90s European competition, but it is the premier competition final 46 years ago that entwines these two together, with the groundbreaking transfer Francis heading the only goal of a pretty miserable final to clinch eternal glory for the red half of Nottingham.

"Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, modestly dressed amid all the excitement and joy, stood for a moment on a bench serenely viewing the revelry," commented the writer. This represented an remarkable feat that it is difficult to imagine happening again – from second tier to European football in three seasons."

One should note to reflect upon Malmö, who became the initial and final Nordic team to reach the final under English manager Bob Houghton.

Tonight's game is a distant from that peak, closer perhaps to the previous continental meeting between Forest and Malmö in that era. Forest are absolutely buzzing after thrashing Liverpool at the famous ground on Saturday, while Malmö haven't kicked a competitive ball since 9 November following the end of the Swedish league season. The smart money is on the home team tonight.

Numerous other matches on offer in this live coverage. Rangers have already been lost to a Portuguese opponent this season. Rangers are last place of the 36-team Europa League standings at the half-way stage of the initial phase with no points whatsoever. They desperately need a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a recovery for a knockout position.

Updates will continue with all the late games and provide the current standings from the earlier matches, including the Birmingham match and Rotterdam vs Glasgow.