By NFFC

Forest rounded off a productive week in Spain with a 2-1 victory over Levante on Saturday.

First-half goals from Ryan Yates and Danilo secured the win for Forest in their third friendly of the pre-season campaign.

Head Coach Steve Cooper made four changes to the side which played against Valencia earlier in the week, with Mohamed Dräger and Josh Powell replacing Neco Williams and Moussa Niakhaté in the wing-back positions.

Cheikhou Kouyaté replaced Orel Mangala in midfield, with Taiwo Awoniyi replacing Hwang Ui-jo in attack.

On another boiling hot day in Spain, Forest showed no signs of early fatigue, taking the lead inside the opening 30 seconds.

Pressing high up the pitch, Awoniyi forced the Levante defender into panic as he misplaced his pass into the path of Remo Freuler. 

The Swiss midfielder looked up and played in Ryan Yates who took a touch and composed himself before slotting beyond the goalkeeper.

George Shelvey made a fantastic save to push a dangerous effort from range onto the crossbar and out for a corner on 19 minutes, and moments later, Forest doubled their lead.

Winning possession in a dangerous area once again, Danilo won possession and drove forward before playing in Yates to his right. The midfielder’s shot was blocked, but kindly ricocheted into Danilo’s path, with the Brazilian emphatically firing in a right-footed effort from close-range.

Levante pulled a goal back to halve the deficit only minutes later through Alejandro Cantero who found the far corner with an impressive curling finish.

But after a second half filled with lots of solid defensive work, The Reds worked hard to preserve their one-goal cushion and departed Spain with a second pre-season win.