Nottingham Forest Battle Fenerbahce In Europa League Play-Offs (FULL FIXTURES)

Nottingham Forest face a daunting trip to Istanbul after being drawn on Friday to play Fenerbahce in the knockout phase play-offs of the Europa League, while Celtic must take on German giants VfB Stuttgart.

Forest, who sit just above the relegation zone in the Premier League, finished 13th out of 36 teams in the Europa League and so were seeded for the play-off draw.

However, Fenerbahce promise to be a tough test as they are unbeaten in the Turkish Super Lig this season, even if they sit three points behind leaders Galatasaray in the table.

Their squad includes former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, Spain star Marco Asensio, and France midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.

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Forest, who will be hoping to return to the Turkish city for the final in May, will nevertheless draw encouragement from the fact that Aston Villa beat Fenerbahce 1-0 at their Sukru Saracoglu stadium just last week.

The winner of that tie will play either Real Betis or Midtjylland in the last 16 — Forest lost at home to the Danes in the league phase in October.

Celtic secured qualification for the play-offs after beating Dutch side Utrecht 4-2 on Thursday to finish 21st. They will host Stuttgart, currently fifth in the Bundesliga, in the first leg on February 19 before the return in Germany on February 26.

The winners will play Portuguese opposition in the last 16, with either Porto or Braga waiting for them.

Other ties in the play-offs include Bologna of Serie A playing Brann Bergen of Norway, and Lille taking on Red Star Belgrade.

Aston Villa are among the eight teams straight through to the last 16, and will play one of Lille, Red Star Belgrade, PAOK, or Celta Vigo in that round.

Europa League knockout phase playoffs -draw

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Genk (BEL)

Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v Ferencvaros (HUN)

Celtic (SCO) v VfB Stuttgart (GER)

Brann (NOR) v Bologna (ITA)

Panathinaikos (GRE) v Viktoria Plzen (CZE)

PAOK (GRE) v Celta Vigo (ESP)

Fenerbahce (TUR) v Nottingham Forest (ENG)

Lille (FRA) v Red Star Belgrade (SRB)

AFP