Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira insisted that his side cannot underestimate Fenerbahce, despite boasting a 3-0 lead ahead of their Europa League play-off second leg.

Pereira, in his first game since replacing Sean Dyche, watched on as goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White helped rubber-stamp a commanding display.

Indeed, the former Wolves boss remained unbeaten in his first game in charge of a club, with Forest his 15th spell at the helm of a team during his managerial career (W11 D4).

The result was Forest's biggest ever away win in major European competition. It was also their first win in the knockout rounds of any European competition since defeating Lyon 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup round of 16 tie in November 1995.

However, Pereira's second match in charge of the Tricky Trees ended in heartbreaking fashion, with Alexis Mac Allister's 97th-minute winner helping Liverpool to a 1-0 win. 

And that late blow served as a reminder to Pereira ahead of facing a Fenerbahce side who have failed to progress from all 26 ties in any competition when losing the first leg of a knockout round clash.

"The worst mistake we can make is thinking it will be easy tomorrow," Pereira said ahead of Thursday's meeting at the City Ground. "They will come here believing.

"We need to approach this game with the right mentality to play in front of our supporters.

"It is a big chance to please them because they deserve it. They helped us a lot in the last game, and they deserve a win."

Training with intensity. pic.twitter.com/vKDzFM7g7o

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) February 25, 2026

The Turkish giants have also won just one of 10 away European matches (including qualifiers) in England (D2 L7), winning 1-0 at Manchester United in October 1996 in the Champions League.

Forest, meanwhile, have won each of their last two Europa League games and could win three consecutive major European games for the first time since the 1983-84 UEFA Cup.

Pereira's chances of leading Forest to the last 16 have also been helped by Fenerbahce's recent injury issues, with Ederson, Anderson Talisca and Caglar Soyuncu all ruled out. 

But even despite the odds being further stacked against them, Pereira is adamant that his former club will not lack belief, and Forest must treat them as the threat they are.

"I know in the last game they got some injuries to some important players," Pereira added.

"But I know the spirit of the club and the Turkish people, they will come here believing."

Following their clash with Fenerbahce, Forest face Brighton in the Premier League with the hopes of pulling further clear from the relegation zone with a win. 

And when asked how Forest could bring their European form into domestic competition, Pereira conceded the difficulty of that transition. 

"This is a different competition, and we have our ambition in this competition," Pereira said. "Today is about tomorrow. We are talking about tomorrow.

"We start at zero, and we need to score goals. We need not concede goals. What I want to see tomorrow is my team increasing their level."