The latest Nottingham Forest news, as we look at some of the standout moments from the 4-3 pre-season friendly victory over Olympiacos.
Nottingham Forest wrapped up their pre-season preparations with an entertaining 4-3 win over Olympiacos on Thursday night, as the new Premier League season approaches.
Forest led 4-1 after goals from Ryan Yates (x2), Chris Wood, and Anthony Elanga. However, Olympiacos scored two late goals to cut the gap.
Here are some of the key points from the clash in Greece.
A key addition
Set pieces proved to be the deciding factor between Forest and Olympiacos on that night. Forest scored three of its four goals on the night from dead ball situations, with summer acquisition Elliot Anderson providing the assist.
On the other hand, the Reds handled any such situations that Olympiacos threw at them with ease. It’s a positive indicator ahead of the new Premier League season.
Set pieces may be crucial in Premier League matches, frequently deciding between taking all three points or none at all. The first and third goals were the result of well-executed routines that put Yates in the right spot at the right moment to head the ball home, while the second saw Wood capitalise on a goalkeeping error.
The Reds’ relentless set-piece play throughout the game is a positive indicator. They will now seek to carry it into their opening encounter against Bournemouth.
Ibrahim Sangare boost
Ibraham Sangare’s performances have been a significant boost during preseason. The £30 million Ivorian joined Forest last summer, with the club believing he would be a key player as they look to build in the Premier League.
But his 2023/24 campaign did not go as planned. Injuries limited him to just 17 league matches, making his season a stop-start one.
The good news for Forest is that, if pre-season results are any indication, he has moved on from last season. Sangare was the Reds’ best player against Olympiacos, mopping up danger and initiating attacks from the base of midfield.
There was some concern when he went down holding his knee early in the game, but much to everyone’s joy, he got back up after receiving treatment and was able to continue. Sangare played for just over an hour before being replaced by Danilo; bringing him off was a good decision, given the midfielder is anticipated to start against Bournemouth on the opening day, where he will attempt to duplicate his pre-season performances.
The Premier League is here.
So that’s it for Forest. All of their pre-season games have been completed, and their next match will be against Bournemouth in just over a week.
Nuno will, of course, have some training sessions with the players before the match to finalize some specifics. But the season is almost here, and it’s time to see what it has in store for the Reds.
