Forest vs Malmö, Rangers v Braga, and More – UEFA Europa League News

League Position

These early results have significant impact on the Europa League table. Celtic climbed to the 17th spot and regained position in the protected qualification spots.

Match Result: Villa 2-1 Young Boys

Aston Villa secured for the win and moved level on points with leaders Midtjylland at the top of the group rankings. The Birmingham club struggled of that in the final stages.

Late Goal: Monteiro Scores

Young Boys gave themselves a chance through Monteiro but had just four more minutes to score the leveler!

Celtic Secure Victory

A memorable and crucial win for the Glasgow side. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic roared back with goals from Yang Hyun-jun, the Japanese midfielder and the Swedish striker.

Latest Action

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

Malen's second goal there sparked furious scenes in the visitors' section, with Young Boys supporters clashing with police. Physical altercations occurred and items launched at both the police and onto the pitch, with the player being hit on the head by a plastic cup.

Lineups: Forest vs Malmö

Nottingham Forest: John Victor, Abbott, Milenkovic, The defender, The full-back, The midfielder, Sangare, The midfielder, The attacker, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo.

Malmö FF: The goalkeeper, The defender, The center-back, Duric, Rosler, Haksabanovic, Johnsen, The midfielder, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, The striker.

Official: Harm Osmers (from Germany)

Team News: Rangers v Braga

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

Braga: Hornicek, Gomez, The center-back, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, The midfielder, Joao Moutinho, Gorby, Martinez, Navarro, Ricardo Horta.

Official: The Dutch referee (Holland)

Preamble

Nottingham Forest v Malmö and past encounters. The these sides have a special connection, also facing each other in Forest's most recent continental tour in the mid-90s European competition, but it is the European Cup final 46 years ago that connects these teams, with the groundbreaking transfer Trevor Francis heading the only goal of a rather dull championship game to clinch eternal glory for the the English club.

"Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, modestly dressed amid all the colour and celebration, stood for a moment on a bench serenely viewing the revelry," wrote the match reporter. Theirs has been an outstanding achievement that it is difficult to imagine happening again – from Second Division to European football in a short period."

It's also interesting to pause a little on Malmö, who became the pioneering and only Nordic team to advance to the ultimate game under English manager Bob Houghton.

The current fixture is a very different to that summit, closer perhaps to the Uefa Cup first-round tie between Forest and Malmö in that era. Forest are full of confidence after thrashing Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, while Malmö haven't played officially since early November following the end of the Swedish league season. The smart money is on the home team tonight.

Plenty of other action on offer in this live coverage. The Scottish side have already been lost to a Braga this season. Rangers are rock bottom of the competition table at the middle of the initial phase with precisely zero points. They urgently require a victory if they are to have any opportunity for a recovery for a playoff spot.

Coverage will persist with all nine of the 8pm kick-offs and provide the current standings from the concluded fixtures, including Villa vs Young Boys and Feyenoord v Celtic.