Luca Netz scores twice for Nottingham Forest before halftime

Luca Netz, the 23-year-old German defender not exactly known for finding the back of the net, put two past the opposition before the halftime whistle for Nottingham Forest. For a player who managed just one goal across 113 appearances at Borussia Mönchengladbach, that qualifies as a statistical anomaly. The left-back’s brace marks a striking departure from his usual contribution profile. Netz built his reputation as a creator rather than a finisher during his Bundesliga career, racking up 18 assists at Gladbach while keeping his personal goal count at a modest one. Scoring twice in 45 minutes is, to put it mildly, not what anyone had penciled in. From Gladbach to the City Ground Netz arrived at Nottingham Forest on February 2, 2026, in a deal worth approximately £1.1 million. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, giving Forest a long-term option at left-back. Born on May 15, 2003, Netz came through Hertha Berlin’s academy before moving to Mönchengladbach, where he developed into a reliable defensive option with genuine attacking instincts. His 18 assists across 113 appearances told the story of a player who could get forward effectively but preferred the final ball to the fina...