Nottingham Forest secured a crucial 2-1 away victory over FC Utrecht in the UEFA Europa League on December 12, 2025. The English side came from behind to claim all three points in the Netherlands, boosting their chances of advancing to the knockout stages. Utrecht took the lead in the first half with a well-taken goal, but Forest responded strongly after the break, scoring twice in a ten-minute period to turn the match around. The winner came from a powerful header following a set-piece, highlighting Forest's aerial threat. The key incident was a potential penalty appeal for Utrecht waved away by the referee in the latter stages, which sparked controversy. This match result propelled Nottingham Forest up the group table, while leaving Utrecht's campaign in a precarious position. The Utrecht manager was critical of the officiating decision, while the Forest boss hailed his team's character and second-half performance.