Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Preview, Odds, & Prediction

With the title and the relegation confirmed in the Premier League, the last matchday will be all about European qualification, and two teams chasing UEFA Champions League football will come at loggerheads as Nottingham Forest will host Chelsea at the City Ground on Sunday, May 25.

In the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, Chris Wood opened the scoring on the evening before Noni Madueke pulled the advantage back to help his team avoid a home defeat.

Learn more about the odds, team news, picks, and predictions for the thrilling English Premier League Matchday 38 clash between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea:

Where to watch Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea

Here is when and where to watch the clash between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea:

Date: 25/05

Time: 5 pm CET

Location: City Ground, Nottinghamshire

Where to watch: The match can be watched on Sky Sports in the UK

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Preview

Nottingham Forest have won only one of the last seven league fixtures against Chelsea, while the Blues have never won consecutive away league games against the Tricky Trees, making this an unpredictable fixture, especially with the stakes being at an all-time high.

Nottingham Forest

Currently sitting in seventh position with 65 points in the bag, Nottingham Forest’s recent form has been quite scratchy as they fell from third position to seventh position within a few weeks. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were cruising till the March international break, but a sharp fall in form between April 5 and May 11 saw the club win only one out of six league matches, apart from losing the FA Cup semi-final to Manchester City.

Chelsea

Conversely, Chelsea was sitting outside the Champions League places till mid-March, but a rich vein of form after the last international break of the season allowed the Blues to get in the driving seat ahead of this crucial match. Enzo Maresca’s men are also in contention to lift a European trophy before the season ends as the West London-based club will meet Real Betis in Poland for the UEFA Europa Conference League final on May 29.

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Under/Over Predictions

The Playoffs aim to facilitate the safest bets for the game. Have a look at the predictions for the game below.

Total goals Over 2.5 @ -155 (MGM Bet): Nottingham Forest and Chelsea have scored more than 120 goals combined in the ongoing season as both clubs have relied on their strikers in Chris Wood and Nicolas Jackson in the first half of the season while wide forwards like Anthony Elanga and Cole Palmer had a more decisive say after Christmas.

Chelsea Total goals Over 1.5 @ -108 (Fan Duel): While Chelsea doesn’t have any players in the list of Top 7 goal scorers of the ongoing Premier League season, the Blues have found the back of the net in recent matches more often than not. In the last five matches, Maresca’s men have blanked only once, against a stringent Newcastle United defensive line, but did score 3 goals against Premier League champions Liverpool and were also able to find an opening in the 1-0 win over Manchester United last weekend courtesy of a Marc Cucurella goal.

ALSO READ: Newcastle United vs Everton Preview, Odds, & Prediction

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Player Picks

Chris Wood (To Score a Goal @ +175 as per Fan Duel): The leading goalscorer in the 2024-25 season for Forest, Chris Wood has scored 20 goals in 35 league matches and the New Zealand striker would be expected to be at his best if Forest want to keep their dreams of playing in the Champions League alive.

Cole Palmer (To Score a Goal @ +175 as per MGM Bet): Chelsea’s shining light, Cole Palmer’s energy levels have dropped in the last few fixtures, but the England international will have to be at his best as the Blues would be relying on his creative acumen as well as his ability to find the back of the net.

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Prediction

The Blues are winless on the last three occasions they ended their league campaign with an away fixture, and the nerves could play a part yet again, away from the comforts of London.

Our Final Prediction: A 2-2 draw between the two teams might end up benefiting Aston Villa as the Birmingham-based club could leapfrog Chelsea into the fifth position if the Blues fail to bag the three points on offer on Sunday evening.

Mohak Arora

A stand-up comedian and a sports journalist with speciality in writing prediction pieces and features on football, cricket, and badminton. Over the last few years, I have contributed pieces to iGaming giants like Parimatch, 1X News, and Melbet.