Mid-March 1996, that was the last time Nottingham Forest played host to a European fixture, the 5-1 second leg defeat to German giants, Bayern Munich, in the quarter-finals of the old UEFA Cup, forerunner of the modern version, the Europa League.

Fast-forward shy of three decades and Forest play host again, this time to that of the Danish side, FC Midtjylland; nicknamed Hedens Drenge/Ulvene (Boys of the Moor/The Wolves), Midtjylland, managed by Mile Tullberg, are already eighteen games into what is a hectic season.

One defeat is all that they’ve suffered thus far, in three different competitions, rising to, following Monday nights’ 2-1 home win over Randers, second place in the Danish Superliga having began back in mid-July.

Even where Thursday’s opponents for the Wolves are concerned, the last time Forest played in Europe, Midtjylland weren’t even in existence, coming to light three years later, in the summer of 1999, after a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad.

Since the merger, and subsequent placement in Danish footballs First Division, it’s been a quick rise to the top; promoted in their first season, as champions, the Danes have grown into one of their nations’ powerhouses.

Four-time Superliga champions and two-time Danish Cup winners, Midtjylland’s first foray into Europe came in the 2001-02 season, and have now registered their nineteenth season of continental football, playing in the Champions League six times in the last decade alone.

All of that continental cup experience has, especially in the past six-or-so seasons, been relayed by the experience of their playing personnel; as the merry-go-round of players at Nottingham’s City Ground, the venue for Thursday’s Europa League match-up has whirred back-and-forth, the gates at the MCH Arena, home of the Wolves, hasn’t quite moved as much.

Granted their manager, Mile Tullberg only joined the club this past summer (after six years in the coaching set-up at Borussia Dortmund), he however knows the philosophy and layout at the MCH having been a former player, assistant manager, and manager himself between 1999 and 2009, and took over what is a vastly experienced squad.

Numerous players in the Midtjylland squad have made over 100 appearances for them, a side with international flair melded with home-grown grit surely makes the challenge ahead for Forest, as tough a one as they’ve faced this season.

Sixteen of this season’s Wolves squad have made eleven or more appearances, and some fifteen different players have scored as well; whether it be in goal where they can choose from Jonas Lossl (259apps) or Elias Olafsson (77apps), defence with captain Mads Bech Sorensen (third season at the club; 93apps) and Brazilian Paulinho (198apps), a stacked midfield with Valdemar Byskov (64apps), Ecuadorian Daniel Castillo (54apps) and their Danish/Turkish sensation Aral Simsir (111apps), or an attack consisting of Guinea-Bissau’s

Franculino Dju (91apps) and Brazilian Junior Brumado (97apps), details the depth of the challenge at hand for the recently appointed Reds boss, Ange Postecoglou.

Having replaced Nuno Espirito Santo (now West Ham United manager), Postecoglou’s baptism as manager of the Reds has been a challenging one to say the least; whilst their opponents at the City Ground have risen to second place in their league, two points behind leaders AGF Aarhus, Forest find themselves fourth bottom.

The 2-2 draw with Spaniards, Real Betis, in their Europa League return (Igor Jesus with a brace sandwiched between goals from Cedric Bakambu and Antony) is the only real high-point so far for the floundering hosts.

Having only won once in their eight games in all competitions this season, Postecoglou’s reign sees them having drawn two and lost three of the five games played the last outing being a 1-0 home reverse to Sunderland, this past Saturday afternoon.

Black Cats midfielder, the experienced Granit Xhaka, pulled the strings as the visitors won courtesy of a first-half goal from Omar Alderete, and their next visitors, those Danish Wolves, will have watched on, perhaps with a wry smile, at what awaits them in Nottingham.

With a Premier League game to quickly follow this, away to Newcastle United, the Forest boss will, without question, be wary of a visiting side who’ve not only lost just once in their eighteen games this season, but have also kept eight clean sheets along the way.

Midtjylland’s Europa League campaign actually began in the qualifiers, back in mid-July, with this being their eighth game already in the competition this campaign; they’ve seen off Scottish side Hibernian (3-2agg), Norwegian outfit Fredrikstad ( 5-1agg), then a play-off win over Finnish side KuPS (6-0agg), before the league phase began with a 2-0 home win against Austrians, Sturm Graz, an early own-goal and a late second by Aral Simsir affording the Reds’ visitors the perfect start.

Nottingham Forest host Danish side FC Midtjylland, at the World Famous City Ground, on Thursday 2 October (KO 20:00) in the UEFA Europa League.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFC Danish side FC Midtjylland are four time domestic league winners.