Nottingham Forest face Brighton and Hove Albion in a crunch Premier League match at the Amex Stadium today
13:47, 01 Mar 2026Updated 13:47, 01 Mar 2026
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Stefan Ortega(Image: Getty)
Head coach Vitor Pereira says it would have been too much of a risk to involve Stefan Ortega in Nottingham Forest’s crunch clash with Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon.
Ortega, who signed for the Reds from Manchester City in the winter transfer window, sustained a calf problem during the second half against Fenerbahce on Thursday night. He received treatment on the pitch and was able to continue but is not in the squad for today’s trip to face the Seagulls.
Fortunately for the Reds, Matz Sels is fit enough to start after being sidelined for the past month with a groin injury. The Belgian is back in the starting XI for the first time since last month’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
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“Of course, Stefan Ortega was doing very well, but he got an injury, and it was a big risk to come into this game – it was not possible,” Pereira told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off at the Amex Stadium. “For our luck, Sels is in (fit) condition and Sels has experience and today it will be important to have Sels in goal.”
The Reds go into this afternoon’s game (2pm kick-off) just two points above the bottom three. Battling for Premier League survival at the same time as trying to go far in the Europa League continues to be a challenge.
“It is difficult, but this is what we have,” Pereira said. “It is important to correct things – sometimes it is not possible on the pitch, sometimes we need to do it by video, but in the end the message is clear, and they know what to do. Today we need to be organised tactically and have the true spirit of a team.”
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Forest lost 2-1 to Fenerbahce in their midweek play-off second leg. But they progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League with a 4-2 aggregate win.
Pereira has made seven changes to his starting XI from the game in midweek. Along with Sels, Nikola Milenkovic, Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus start. They take the places of Jair Cunha, Morato, Ryan Yates, James McAtee, Nicolas Dominguez and Lorenzo Lucca.
Sels will take his place between the posts behind a back line of Neco Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo and Aina. Sangare will partner Elliot Anderson in midfield.
Omari Hutchinson will join Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi in providing attacking support for front man Jesus. The bench will be made up of Angus Gunn, Taiwo Awoniyi, Dan Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, Jair, McAtee, Luca Netz and Dilane Bakwa.
Forest: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus. Subs: Gunn, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, Jair, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
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