SEVILLE, Spain: Nottingham Forest’s long-awaited return to European competition ended in a 2-2 Europa League draw at Real Betis on Wednesday, with Igor Jesus’s first-half double canceled out by a late Antony strike, while AS Roma opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory at Nice. Forest’s return to a major European competition for the first time since March 1996 began on the wrong foot, with Betis taking the lead inside 15 minutes when Cedric Bakambu fired an effort high into the net.

The head coach said before Nottingham Forest’s Europa League match against Real Betis on Wednesday: ‘If you dream, you can reach the absolute pinnacle’

Nottingham Forest were denied victory in their opening Europa League when Antony’s late goal for Real Betis pegged them back to 2-2