Nottingham Forest and Chelsea will clash in the final EPL fixtures of the year in a bid to secure Champions League football next season. With five teams still in the race, this City Ground showdown is decisive. Whoever wins secures qualification outright, avoiding any reliance on other results or goal difference. Which team will meet its target? Our Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea preview provides valuable insight for the game.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Match Information
- Competition: English Premier League, Round 38
- Venue: City Ground Stadium, Nottingham, England
- Date: 25 May 2025
- Time: 15:00 GMT on Sunday
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Odds to Win
Sportbooks for Premier League games have published the following Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea odds:
- Nottingham Forest to Win @ 3.00 (3/4)
- Draw @ 3.75 (11/4)
- Chelsea to Win @ 2.20 (5/4)
NFO – CHE: H2H
Both teams have won this fixture once in their past five meetings, with three draws.
- Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest (6th October 2024)
- Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea (11th May 2024)
- Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest (2nd September 2023)
- Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest (13th May 2023)
- Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea (1st January 2023)
Nottingham Forest Interesting Match Stats
- Chris Wood’s 20 Premier League goals this campaign mark Forest’s best tally since Collymore’s 22 in 1994–95.
- Forest’s 19 wins surpass their total from their last two Premier League seasons combined (18).
- Chelsea has secured only one victory in their last ten Premier League away matches.
Nottingham Forest Team Analysis
Nottingham Forest should have secured a Champions League spot weeks ago, but poor form delayed progress. Recently, they have remained unbeaten in three matches, though two were draws, including against Leicester. Forest ended a four-match winless streak with a crucial 2-1 victory over West Ham last weekend, boosting their top-five hopes.
To guarantee a UCL spot, Forest must defeat Chelsea in the season finale and hope Newcastle or Aston Villa drop points. Even if they win, Forest will need external help to secure UCL qualification. Regardless, they will finish with European football (UEFA Europa League or Conference League) and achieve their best Premier League position since 1994-95. A top-five finish would mark their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 1980-81 season.
Nottingham Forest Line-Up Prediction
Forest will monitor Murillo after an ankle knock, while Hudson-Odoi could start against his former club. However, Awoniyi remains sidelined and is recovering from abdominal surgery.
Possible starting lineup: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Last 5 Matches: W-D-D-L-L
Chelsea Team Analysis
Chelsea, once title contenders, now fight to secure a Champions League spot. Currently fifth, their position is far from guaranteed, as Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa threaten to overtake them. Missing out on the UCL would be a major failure. The Blues have shown solid form, winning five of their last six matches, with only one loss against Newcastle. This includes their recent 1-0 victory against Liverpool, a match we also reviewed in this link.
Last weekend’s 1-0 win over Manchester United brought them just one point ahead of Forest. Chelsea also chase silverware in the UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis this Wednesday. Their earlier draw with Forest shows this match won’t be easy for the visitors.
Line Up Prediction
Nkunku and Guiu return from injury, and Sancho is available after missing the tie against Man United, his parent team. However, Jackson remains suspended for the Blues.
Possible starting lineup: Sanchez; James, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Sancho.
Last 5 Matches: W-L-W-W-W
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Betting Tips & Predictions
Having thoroughly evaluated both teams, let’s present our expert tips for the Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea:
- Nottingham Forest To Win or Draw @ 1.66 (2/3) odds — Nottingham has the luxury of going full strength in this game, while Chelsea will have an eye on their upcoming UECL final. They’ve also avoided defeat in four of their previous five encounters with the Blues, with one victory and three draws. With a UCL spot at stake and home advantage, Forest are expected to avoid defeat at all costs in this season’s finale.
- Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 1.57 (4/7) odds – Four of their last five meetings have seen goals from both ends. All of Nottingham’s last three matches have also ended with both teams scoring. Considering the stakes of this match, we expect both teams to go all out and get the vital goal.
- Chris Wood To score Anytime @ 2.60 (8/5) odds – Chris Wood is pivotal to the sensational season Forest are enjoying this season. He has netted 20 league goals, more than all of the next three teammates combined. Wood is 4th on the EPL top scorer charts, one goal behind Erling Harland, last season’s golden boot winner. He scored against the Blues in the first leg, and he’s primed to find the net again on Sunday.
Final Thoughts & Recommended Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Betting Tips
Check out our recommended Premier League betting picks as we round up our Inter vs Lazio analysis.
✅ Nottingham Forest To Win or Draw @ 1.66 (2/3) odds
✅ Chris Wood To score Anytime @ 2.60 (8/5) odds
Forest will enjoy the home advantage that could enable them to claim at least a draw in this match. Use our Premier League prediction to stake on sportsbooks in Italy and check back for more tips like this.
Adedayo is the Co-founder and lead analyst at SoccerOrator.com. With 5+ years of experience as a sports writer for major platforms like Betzillion and Eaglespredict, he brings an expert eye to the global betting markets. Formerly a multi-sport analyst covering everything from Tennis to Esports, he now specializes exclusively in European football. He provides weekly, data-backed previews for the EPL, Champions League, and top-flight European leagues, helping bettors find value through rigorous statistical analysis.
