Nottingham Forest FC traveled to Portugal’s Algarve region for a pre‑season friendly against Vitória S.C., meeting at the Algarve Stadium in a match played without spectators.
A quiet test in Portugal
Both sides arrived in good shape, with Forest having opened their tour with two wins over Notts County and Blackburn Rovers, while Vitória de Guimarães had streaked to four straight victories, scoring 13 goals in the process.
The encounter served as a fitness checkpoint and a tactical laboratory for the two clubs as they fine‑tune strategies ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign.
Forest’s head coach Oliver Glasner watched the action from the sidelines, his presence underscoring the importance the club places on building momentum before competitive fixtures begin.
What’s next for the squads
Both clubs will now turn their attention to upcoming league fixtures, using the lessons from the Algarve friendly to adjust formations and integrate new signings as they prepare for the challenges ahead.