What happened?
Nottingham Forest and Sporting CP faced off in a pre-season friendly match at the Estádio Algarve in Portugal. The match was the last warm-up game of Forest’s summer training camp before the new season began.
Why it matters for Nottingham Forest
What comes next?
Forest also completed another friendly against Portimonense earlier in the day before taking on the Portuguese champions in their final pre-season test. The Reds looked to build on their recent form, which saw them draw 0-0 with Bournemouth on May 24, 2026.
Team News and Match Storylines
One of the main topics before kickoff was Ousmane Diomande. The Sporting defender was rumored to be moving to Nottingham Forest FC, casting doubt on his participation in the friendly as transfer talks continued.
Team Form
Sporting CP entered the match full of confidence after an impressive pre-season campaign. The Portuguese side recorded three consecutive victories, including a 4-1 win over Celtic and a dominant 7-0 success against Strasbourg.
Recent Form
Nottingham Forest also enjoyed a positive build-up to the new campaign. Oliver Glasner’s side stayed unbeaten in pre-season, collecting two victories and one draw as they continued adapting to the manager’s tactical approach.
League Standing
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 16th in Premier League, 44 pts, 11W-11D-16L from 38 games, recent form DLDWW.
Goals Scored
Goals this season: 48 scored, 51 conceded (-3 goal difference).
Title Race
Title race: 41 points behind leaders Arsenal.
