FC Midtjylland 1-2 Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: Elías Olafsson 9.0/10 Heroics Not Enough as Tricky Trees Survive Scare to Reach Quarter-Finals

Nottingham Forest made life as complicated as they possibly could for themselves, and yet Nuno Espírito Santo's side found a way through anyway. Dominguez's looped header on 40 minutes drew the tie level on aggregate, and for a period, it genuinely felt like Nottingham Forest's makeshift lineup was going to make this look far more comfortable than the circumstances suggested. Yates' thunderous strike from outside the box in the 52nd minute briefly put the English side in control.

Then Erlic struck. A half-volley into the roof of the net from a side that had barely registered a meaningful attack all evening levelled the tie for the second time and sent the match into extra-time and then penalties, where Forest kept their composure completely, dispatching all three spot-kicks while Midtjylland missed every single one of theirs. Throughout it all, one man stood between Forest and a far more comfortable evening: Elías Olafsson, whose five first-half saves alone gave FC Midtjylland any right to still be in the tie by the final whistle. Here are Sportsdunia's FC Midtjylland vs Nottingham Forest player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Olafsson was absolutely exceptional, and his 9.0/10 rating was fully deserved despite finishing on the losing side.
• Forest's character and composure under pressure were the defining factors across the full 120 minutes.
• Ryan Yates' thunderbolt in the 52nd minute was the moment that should have won it for Forest in normal time.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs FC Midtjylland

Check out the Nottingham Forest player ratings vs FC Midtjylland.

Goalkeeper

Stefan Ortega - 6.5: Had very little to do for large parts of the game, a testament to his defence. He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded, it was a messy situation. Made a crucial save in the 81st minute to keep his team ahead. Looked commanding enough during the tense final stages, though his distribution was a bit erratic at times, losing possession 27 times.

Defenders

Morato - 7.0: A solid and dependable performance over 120 minutes. He made an incredible 14 clearances, which shows how much pressure the defense was under late on. His passing was mostly safe, but he did create one chance. From our perspective, he was a quiet but effective presence at the back, just doing his job without any fuss.

Nikola Milenković - 8.0: A fantastic 61-minute display before being substituted. He was a beast in the air and won almost all of his duels. Provided the crucial headed assist for the opening goal, showing his threat in the opposition box. We were a bit surprised to see him taken off, as he was arguably one of the best players on the pitch.

Zach Abbott - 7.0: The young defender played the full 120 minutes and didn't look out of place. He was tidy in possession and won all of his tackles. Made 5 important clearances and was good with his long-range passing. A very mature performance that bodes well for his future. He really held his own.

Midfielders

Dan Ndoye - 6.5: A lively hour on the pitch. He provided the cross for a big chance and was always willing to take on his man. His final product could have been better, with only one of his four crosses finding its mark. Did his defensive duties well, winning all three of his attempted tackles.

Nicolás Domínguez - 8.5: A brilliant, all-action display. He got the ball rolling with a well-taken header to open the scoring. Was everywhere on the pitch, making 9 ball recoveries and putting in three tackles. His energy was infectious, though he did tire before being subbed. An error leading to a shot was the only small blot on his copybook.

Ryan Yates - 8.5: The captain led by example. Scored an absolute screamer from outside the box to make it 2-0. He was so unlucky not to have another when his shot cannoned off the crossbar. Took 5 shots in total and was a constant goal threat from midfield. A true warrior who played every single minute.

Dilane Bakwa - 7.0: Showed some real flashes of quality during his time on the pitch. He was a constant creative outlet, putting in some dangerous crosses. Won a good number of his duels and recovered the ball 7 times for his team. His game was unfortunately cut short by an injury.

Forwards

Lorenzo Lucca - 6.5: A tireless performance leading the line for 120 minutes. His hold-up play was decent, but he will be kicking himself for missing a big chance in the first half. He worked incredibly hard but didn't get the goal his efforts deserved. A frustrating night for the striker.

Omari Hutchinson - 7.5: Really exciting to watch. Created three chances for his teammates in just 61 minutes, showing his vision and quality on the ball. His direct running caused problems, and he was a constant threat. A very promising performance that left us wanting more.

James McAtee - 8.0: The creative spark for Forest. He provided the assist for Yates's wonder goal and created another big chance. His link-up play was excellent, and he was always looking to make things happen. We noticed his intelligence on the ball; he rarely wasted possession and was crucial to Forest's attacking play.

Substitutes

Neco Williams - 6.5: Came on and did a solid job, slotting into the game well. Converted his penalty with confidence.

Morgan Gibbs-White - 7.0: Added a different dimension to the attack when he came on. Was always looking to be positive on the ball and scored his penalty coolly.

Murillo - 6.5: Replaced the impressive Milenkovic and was steady. Picked up a yellow card but was otherwise composed.

Elliot Anderson - 6.0: Looked a little off the pace and picked up a silly yellow card.

Ola Aina - 6.5: Brought on for the injured Bakwa and provided good energy down the flank.

Ibrahim Sangaré - 7.0: Came on late and confidently dispatched his penalty in the shootout.

Manager

V. de Oliveira Lopes Pereira - 8.0: His team started on the front foot and executed his game plan perfectly to go 2-0 up. His substitutions were logical, and he managed the game well as Midtjylland fought back. Ultimately, his side showed immense character to win the shootout. A great result.

FC Midtjylland Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Here are the FC Midtjylland player ratings for the FC Midtjylland vs Nottingham Forest UEL fixture.

Goalkeeper

Elías Ólafsson - 9.0: What a performance. Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. He made an incredible seven saves, including four from inside the box, to keep his team in the tie. Without him, Forest would have run away with it in normal time. He was commanding, brave, and couldn't do anything about the penalties in the shootout. A truly outstanding display.

Defenders

Ousmane Diao - 5.5: A difficult night for the defender. He struggled against Forest's fluid attack and lost possession 20 times. Was caught offside in a promising position and generally looked a bit shaky. Substituted after 91 minutes, which was probably the right call.

Martin Erlić - 8.0: A warrior's performance. He made a colossal 15 clearances and 4 interceptions. On top of his defensive heroics, he scored the goal that got his team back into the game. He was a rock at the back and did everything he could to repel the Forest attacks. A really impressive showing.

Mads Bech Sørensen - 6.5: The captain had a busy evening. He was strong in the air, winning 6 of his 7 aerial duels. However, he was loose in possession, losing the ball 26 times which put his team under pressure. A mixed performance from the skipper.

Victor Bak - 4.5: A night to forget for the defender. His error directly led to a goal, a moment that completely changed the complexion of the tie. He struggled to cope throughout the game and looked low on confidence. From our perspective, he was the weak link in the backline.

Midfielders

Philip Billing - 5.5: A very quiet first half before being substituted at the break. He struggled to get into the game and impose his physical presence. Failed to make any significant impact on the proceedings. A disappointing outing.

Darío Osorio - 6.0: Full of running and committed five fouls, showing his tenacity. He won a decent number of duels but his final product was lacking. Lost possession frequently and his decision-making in the final third wasn't great. Picked up a deserved yellow card for his troubles.

Pedro Bravo - 6.0: Worked hard in the midfield battle for 120 minutes but offered little in an attacking sense. He made some tackles but also committed three fouls and was booked. His passing was safe but uninspired, and an error led to a shot for the opposition.

Valdemar Byskov - 6.0: Like Billing, he was hooked at halftime after a largely anonymous 45 minutes. He created one chance but also made an error that led to a shot. Didn't have enough time to really influence the game.

Denil Castillo - 7.0: A real powerhouse in midfield. He won an incredible 14 duels and was a disruptive force throughout the 120 minutes. His energy was impressive, though his use of the ball was sometimes poor, losing it 22 times. A very combative performance.

Forwards

Júnior Brumado - 6.0: He was a physical presence up front but was well-marshalled by the Forest defence. Won a few duels but was dispossessed three times and offered very little goal threat. Substituted early in the second half.

Substitutes

Aral Simsir - 5.0: Came on and showed some nice touches but ultimately missed a crucial penalty in the shootout.

Lee Han-Beom - 6.0: Brought on at halftime and was steady enough.

Cho Gue-Sung - 4.5: Offered a different threat up top but his shocking penalty miss, hitting the post, was a defining moment.

Adam Gabriel - 6.0: Provided fresh legs in extra time.

Edward Chilufya - 4.5: His penalty miss was the worst of the lot, blazing it over the bar to seal his team's fate.

Manager

M. Tullberg - 6.0: His team showed great character to fight back from two goals down. However, the preparation for penalties seemed nonexistent. To miss all three spot-kicks in such a crucial shootout is unforgivable and ultimately reflects poorly on the manager and his staff.

Man of the Match

Elías Ólafsson of FC Midtjylland was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Victor Bak was the worst performer.