Nottingham Forest continue their Europa League adventures with a trip to Utrecht this week, with Sean Dyche’s men occupying 16th spot in the standings.
On paper, Nottingham Forest will be favourites against a side with just one point so far from their five games, although realistically, a tough game awaits.
So, what can the two-time European champions really expect from the Eredivisie outfit?
A strong 2024/25
The team, located in the centre of the country, qualified for the group stages of a European competition for the first time in almost 15 years after an impressive 2024-25 campaign.
Finishing above both AZ and Twente in 4th spot was their highest top flight finish in almost a decade, since Erik Ten Hag led them to the same position back in 2017.
They also won 18 games, their joint highest in the top flight since 2013, as well as scoring 62 goals, their highest number in a season since 1987. A strong start to the season got the momentum rolling, going unbeaten in their opening eight matches. Entering the winter break, they were second in the table, and threatening a title race with PSV and Ajax.
Form dipped slightly over the winter months, with Ron Jans’ side winning one of their next seven games, a run that included home defeats to Fortuna and an Almere side who finished bottom. The season did include some strong results against the big teams in the league, most notably beating Ajax 4-0, as well as an away win at Feyenoord and a 2-2 draw at the home of champions PSV.
Inconsistency & European woes
This season, the 'Cathedral Citizens' as they're also known, are seventh in the Eredivisie as we approach the winter break. The biggest problem has been on the road, with just five of their 22 points coming away from home.
One win in six during September/October saw them drop down to 9th place, before securing back-to-back wins over NEC and Ajax, two sides currently occupying 3rd and 4th respectively. Despite a current unbeaten run of five games, their last three matches have been draws, one of which was rather frustratingly against newly-promoted bottom side Telstar.
Their return to Europe has not quite gone to plan, currently staring into the barrel of elimination with three games to go. Every match is now a must-win for any chance of continuing their journey beyond the winter nights. Despite picking up one draw and four defeats so far, some performances arguably warrant more of a deserved points tally. Fans expected their team to put on a much better show, with disappointment after losses also to SK Brann and Freiburg.
With Forest the next side to visit Stadion Galgenwaard, the Dutch team has looked stronger at home in front of their own fans. Two games have brought a narrow one goal loss to Lyon, as well as a draw with Portuguese giants FC Porto.
Ron Jans
For 66-year-old manager Ron Jans, who is currently in his third season in charge, reaching the same heights of last season was always going to be difficult alongside the strains of European football. The former Twente manager now has the highest win rate of any Utrecht manager in history (Having managed over 10 games).
Last season, the team utilised attacking football, focusing on getting the ball out wide. That attacking mentality is on show as much as possible, although defensively they have looked vulnerable at times, especially on the counterattack.
In contrast, set pieces are a threat, the side have scored seven goals so far this season from dead balls, the second highest in the league.
Key Players
Jans has a lot of individual quality at his disposal, especially in midfield. Central midfielders Victor Jensen and Gjivai Zechiel are among the top scorers, with four goals each. Utrecht in fact are one of only two sides in the top flight to have more goals scored by midfielders than attackers.
That problem has been highlighted particularly in the Europa League, where Utrecht have scored just twice in their five games so far. West Ham striker Sebastien Haller sometimes leads the line, although David Min has been the more prominent goalscorer, with three to his name this season.
Prior to the game, Ron Jans recognised Nottingham Forest’s style of play, and called on a sold out stadium to help the team
"They have a defensive block in which they can switch and score away.
Or they score from set pieces, that is perhaps their greatest weapon. That is very different from, for example, Real Betis. With the support of the crowd, you have to be on top of it. Then we can make it difficult for any team."
Highlights of Utrechts draw at the weekend
