Porto And Nottingham Forest Clash In Europa League Quarterfinal

Porto And Nottingham Forest Clash In Europa League Quarterfinal...

Portuguese giants FC Porto face England's Nottingham Forest in a high-stakes Europa League quarterfinal first leg on Thursday. The matchup has captured attention in the U.S. due to Forest's surprising resurgence under American coach Jesse Marsch and Porto's global fanbase.

The game marks Forest's first European quarterfinal appearance since 1980, when they won the European Cup. Their Cinderella run under Marsch, appointed last summer after leaving Leeds United, has drawn comparisons to his successful tenure at RB Leipzig.

Porto enters as favorites, sitting second in Portugal's Primeira Liga. But Forest's recent Premier League form - including wins over Chelsea and Tottenham - suggests an upset possibility. The match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET at Estádio do Dragão in Porto.

American interest spiked after Marsch told ESPN this week he's using the tournament to showcase Forest's potential to U.S. investors. The club's owner, Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis, has reportedly considered selling a minority stake.

U.S. viewers can watch on Paramount+, with Univision carrying Spanish-language coverage. The return leg occurs April 17 at Nottingham's City Ground, which will host its first European quarterfinal in 44 years.

The winner advances to face either Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham in the semifinals. For Forest, progression would cap a remarkable turnaround after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.