Malmö vs Nottingham Forest, Rangers v Braga, and Additional – Europa League Updates

Current Table

These early results greatly affect the league rankings. Celtic have moved up to 17th position and returned to the protected playoff places.

Final Score: Aston Villa 2-1

Aston Villa secured for the three points and became tied on points with front-runners Midtjylland at the top of the group rankings. The English side made hard work of that during the closing minutes.

90+1: Monteiro Pulls One Back

Young Boys gave themselves a hope through Monteiro but only have stoppage time to get the tying goal!

Celtic Secure Victory

A memorable and crucial win for the Glasgow side. Even after falling 1-0 down, Celtic responded strongly with goals from the Korean forward, Hatate and Nygren.

Game Developments

Aston Villa, at the same time, retained a 2-0 lead over Young Boys with roughly 300 seconds left at their home ground.

Malen's second goal there caused dramatic events in the opposition stands, with Young Boys supporters clashing with police. Punches were thrown and projectiles hurled at both the police and at the playing surface, with the player being struck in the head by a throwable object.

Lineups: Forest vs Malmö

Forest: Victor, The defender, The center-back, The defender, Morato, Yates, Sangare, Dominguez, McAtee, The winger, Kalimuendo.

The Swedish side: Ellborg, The defender, Jansson, Duric, The full-back, Haksabanovic, The midfielder, Skogmar, Bolin, Gudjohnsen, The striker.

Referee: Osmers (from Germany)

Team News: Rangers v Braga

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Aarons, The midfielder, Diomande, Raskin, The attacker, The forward, Chermiti.

The Portuguese side: The goalkeeper, Gomez, Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Zalazar, Moutinho, The midfielder, Martinez, Navarro, Ricardo Horta.

Official: Lindhout (Netherlands)

Historical Context

Nottingham Forest v Malmö and past encounters. The two clubs have a special connection, also meeting in Forest's last European campaign in the 1995-96 Uefa Cup, but it is the premier competition final from 1979 that links these clubs, with Britain's first £1m player the English forward netting the decisive goal of a rather dull championship game to claim legendary status for the the English club.

"Forest's famous bosses, unassuming and low-key amid all the excitement and joy, stood for a moment on a bench quietly watching the mafficking," noted the journalist. Their achievement was an extraordinary accomplishment that it is hard to see being repeated – from Second Division to continental competition in just three years."

It's also interesting to reflect upon Malmö, who became the pioneering and only Nordic team to reach the final under manager Houghton.

The current fixture is a distant from that pinnacle, closer perhaps to the Uefa Cup first-round tie between Forest and Malmö in that era. Forest are riding high after thrashing Liverpool at Liverpool's home on Saturday, while Malmö haven't played officially since 9 November following the conclusion of their domestic campaign. The general expectation is on the Forest tonight.

Plenty of other action on offer in this clockwatch. The Scottish side have already been lost to a Braga this season. Rangers are last place of the 36-team Europa League standings at the half-way stage of the league phase with no points whatsoever. They urgently require a victory if they are to have any hope of making a late surge for a playoff spot.

Coverage will persist with all the evening matches and provide the current standings from the concluded fixtures, including Villa vs Young Boys and Feyenoord v Celtic.