Forest use Portuguese friendly to sharpen up ahead of 2026‑27 season
Nottingham Forest travelled to the Algarve for a behind‑closed‑doors friendly against Vitória de Guimarães on Sunday as preparations for the 2026‑27 campaign continued under new manager Oliver Glasner. The fixture, held at the Algarve Stadium in Portugal, provided both teams with a competitive workout away from the spotlight.
The match formed part of a wider summer schedule designed to build match fitness, test tactical ideas and give players meaningful minutes before the competitive season begins. Forest arrived in Portugal on the back of positive early‑season friendlies, having kept clean sheets in wins over local rivals and Championship opposition.
Form and fitness
Forest had enjoyed a reassuring start to their pre‑season programme, recording opening victories in warm‑up matches. Those results offered Glasner and his coaching staff encouraging signs about defensive organisation and attacking options as they integrate new methods at the City Ground.
| Club | Notable pre‑season runs |
|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest | Two opening wins without conceding (including victories over Notts County and Blackburn) |
| Vitória de Guimarães | Four straight pre‑season wins, scoring 13 goals |
What the game delivered
- Opportunity for squad rotation and assessment of fringe players.
- Chance to refine defensive shape after successive clean sheets.
- Test against an in‑form Portuguese side to gauge intensity and pressing patterns.
Playing without supporters in attendance meant the encounter was primarily intended as a practical rehearsal rather than a spectacle, but it still presented a stern challenge. Vitória de Guimarães arrived in good order after a productive pre‑season, having notched a notable number of goals in their warm‑ups.
For Forest, the emphasis over the coming weeks will be on maintaining the defensive discipline displayed in earlier friendlies while continuing to give minutes to those pushing for first‑team places. The coaching staff will also be monitoring fitness loads as the squad readies itself for the full demands of the Premier League calendar.
Supporters in Nottingham can expect further friendlies and the return of competitive fixtures as the club finalises preparations. The Portuguese trip, though low on publicity, will have provided Glasner with useful data on individual players and collective shape ahead of the new season.
