Nottingham Forest's Europa League campaign faced a setback as they were held to a draw by Sturm Graz at the Merkur Arena on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The match, part of Round 4 of the Europa League, saw Morgan Gibbs-White miss a crucial penalty that could have secured a vital away win for the English side.
Forest started the game brightly, creating several opportunities in the first half. James McAtee, Ryan Yates and Neco Williams all came close to breaking the deadlock, putting the Sturm Graz defense under pressure. However, it was Gibbs-White who had the golden chance to put Forest ahead after they were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately for the visitors, the midfielder's effort was saved, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
Sturm Graz, playing at home, also had their moments. The Austrian side made a triple substitution in the 59th minute, bringing on Seedy Jatta, Dimitri Lavalée, and Axel Kayombo in an attempt to inject fresh energy into their attack. Kayombo was later booked in the 73rd minute for a foul on Milenković.
Forest responded with a substitution of their own in the 66th minute, replacing McAtee with Ndoye. Despite the changes, neither side could find a breakthrough in the second half, resulting in a frustrating draw for Nottingham Forest.
The result leaves Nottingham Forest's hopes of progressing in the Europa League hanging in the balance. With both teams eager to secure a positive result, the match was a hard-fought contest. Sturm Graz has been struggling with form, suffering a 67% loss rate in their last three Europa League matches and three losses in their last six home matches across all competitions. Nottingham Forest has also faced challenges, with eight defeats in 14 matches this season and a 57% loss rate in away games.
Looking ahead, Nottingham Forest's schedule includes a match against Al Qadsiah at the City Ground on Saturday, August 9. This game will be their final one before the league campaign begins.
Despite the draw, Nottingham Forest's participation in the Europa League marks a significant milestone for the club, representing their first season in a UEFA competition in 29 years.
