Glasner's Forest Face Off Against Mowbray's Blackburn in Portugal Friendly

Nottingham Forest, under the guidance of their new manager Oliver Glasner, are set to take on Blackburn Rovers in a pre-season friendly at the Estadio de Nora in Albufeira, Portugal. This encounter marks the first meeting between the two teams since December 2022, when Forest secured a 4-1 victory over Blackburn in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Forest have been undergoing significant changes, with Glasner being the fifth manager to take the reins in less than a year. Following the departure of Vitor Pereira, Glasner has expressed his desire to create a winning environment at the club, having previously lifted three trophies during his time at Crystal Palace. In their first pre-season match under Glasner, Forest recorded a 2-0 win over Notts County, with players like Arnaud Kalimuendo and Igor Jesus getting on the scoresheet. The team has since arrived in Portugal for a warm-weather training camp, where they will face Blackburn, Vitoria de Guimaraes, and Sporting Lisbon. On the other hand, Blackburn Rovers are preparing for their eighth consecutive season in the Championship, having narrowly avoided relegation last season. The team has welcomed back head coach Tony Mowbray, who has stated his focus on improving the current squad rather than making new signings. Blackburn has made an unbeaten start to their pre-season, with a goalless draw against Accrington Stanley and a 3-0 win over Barnsley. For the upcoming match, Forest's Chris Wood and Ibrahim Sangare are expected to re-join the senior squad, while Callum Hudson-Odoi will be partially integrated into team training as he recovers from an injury. However, Murillo and Nicolo Savona are still recovering from their respective injuries and will miss the match. As for Blackburn, several first-team players missed the draw with Accrington due to illness but are expected to feature against Forest. Scott Wharton is dealing with a minor thigh strain and will not be involved, while Lewis Miller is still recovering from a long-term Achilles tendon injury. The possible starting lineups for both teams have been announced, with Forest's lineup including players like Sels, Abbott, and Gibbs-White, and Blackburn's lineup featuring Pears, Litherland, and Ohashi. The match is expected to be a closely contested one, with both teams looking to make a strong start to their pre-season campaigns. However, with Glasner selecting a strong starting lineup, Forest's superior quality is likely to give them the edge they need to secure a win.