Nottingham Forest welcomes Chelsea in a match that could be decisive for both teams. After seven winless games under Ange Postecoglou, the hosts are in acute danger of relegation, with only two points separating them from 18th place. Chelsea, on the other hand, travel with renewed confidence after their late winner against Liverpool and are only one point behind the Champions League places in seventh. Particularly explosive: coach Enzo Maresca will have to watch from the stands after his exuberant celebration during the Liverpool victory. The most recent head-to-head matches have been remarkably close, with four of the last five encounters ending 0-0 at halftime before being decided in the second half.
- Venue: City Ground, Nottingham
- Date and time: October 18, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 8)
The bookmakers clearly see Chelsea as the favorites with odds of around 1.9 for an away win, while Forest are trading at around 3.8. This assessment reflects the differences in form: Forest are winless in nine games and have conceded goals in each of their last five, while Chelsea have won their last two and are unbeaten away from home. An interesting betting option is the combination of a Chelsea win and over 2.5 goals, as Chelsea have been involved in games with at least three goals in around 80 percent of their recent matches and Forest have scored in four of their last five home games. The precarious league position could force the hosts to play more offensively, which increases the likelihood of goals. More cautious bettors could opt for single bets such as a Chelsea win or over 1.5 goals.
Nottingham Form & Record Check
Nottingham Forest’s slump in form is evident in all the statistics: three defeats and two draws from their last five games, 17th place with only five points from seven games, one point above the relegation zone. Particularly alarming is their defensive weakness, conceding a goal in the first half in four of their last five games, while failing to score a single goal in the second half. The recent 2-0 defeat at Newcastle clearly revealed the problems: four yellow cards, ineffective substitutions in the 64th minute, goals conceded by Bruno Guimarães and a penalty from Woltemade. Things are not going any better in the Europa League, as shown by the 3-2 home defeat to Midtjylland and the 2-2 draw at Real Betis. The situation is exacerbated by the absence of key players such as Aina, who is not expected back until January, as well as Zinchenko and Hutchinson. The ongoing crisis is fueling speculation about a change of coach, with Sean Dyche being touted as a possible successor, especially as club owner Evangelos Marinakis is known for his lack of patience.
Postecoglou is likely to opt for a 3-4-3 formation. Sels will be in goal, with Milenkovic, Morato, and Murillo forming a back three. Williams will continue to replace the injured Zinchenko on the left, with Hudson-Odoi on the right. Anderson, who returns from international duty with confidence, and Yates are expected to start in central midfield. Gibbs-White, Wood, and Ndoye are likely to make up the attacking trio, although Wood is doubtful after picking up a knee injury in New Zealand. If he is unavailable, Kalimuendo would be the most likely replacement.
Chelsea Form & Record Check
Chelsea are in inconsistent form. The 2-1 win against Liverpool brought three important points, but also highlighted their continuing weaknesses: an early lead by Caicedo, an equalizer by Gakpo and a late winner by Cucurella secured the narrow victory. With eleven points in seventh place, level on points with Everton, their record in the last five league games shows three wins and two defeats, including a 3-1 loss to Brighton and a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United. Their defensive vulnerability is striking, with Chelsea conceding at least one goal in four of their last five games. At the same time, four of these five games have seen over 2.5 goals scored, indicating volatility in defense. The personnel situation is causing additional concern: Palmer is out until the end of October with groin problems, Colwill has suffered a cruciate ligament rupture and will be out for the long term, and Delap is struggling with a thigh injury. In other competitions, results have been mixed, with a 1-0 win against Benfica in the Champions League and a narrow 2-1 win at Lincoln in the League Cup. The absence of coach Maresca on the sidelines could prove to be an additional disadvantage, with assistant Caballero having to direct the team from the stands.
Maresca will watch the game from the stands after being suspended for his celebrations against Liverpool. Chelsea are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Chalobah returns to central defense after serving his suspension, Fofana is expected to be fit again after his concussion, and Adarabioyo could return to the squad after calf problems. Colwill is out long term with a cruciate ligament rupture and is not expected to return until spring 2026. Palmer remains sidelined in midfield with a groin injury, while Essugo is unlikely to be available until 2026 following thigh surgery.
H2H Nottingham – Chelsea Head-to-head & Statistics
The record from the last five meetings slightly favors Chelsea with two wins, one win for Forest, and two draws. A clear pattern emerges in the course of the game: in 80 percent of cases, the score was tied at halftime, and four of the five games were decided in the second half. Forest scored at least one goal after the break in each of the last four head-to-head matches, while Chelsea conceded goals in the second half four times in a row. The most recent results underscore this trend: in May 2025, Chelsea won 1-0 at City Ground, in October 2024, the two teams drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge, and in May 2024, Chelsea won 3-2 in Nottingham with all five goals coming after the break. This history suggests another close encounter, with little action in the first half and an increased likelihood of goals after the break.
