Football Preview | Nottingham Forest v Chelsea

Forest and Chelsea resume their campaign following the international break.

Buoyed by victories over Benfica and Liverpool, the mood around Maresca’s side is markedly more positive.

Author | Lauren W

Stadium | The City Ground

Forest v Chelsea May 2025

A match between two sides that have four European Cups between them will take place in Nottingham. Chelsea need a win to carry on their momentum from before the break. Forest need a win to possibly save the job of their manager who has yet to pick up three points since taking over last month.

When the two sides met last season...

It was the final day of the Premier League and Chelsea needed a win to secure Champions League qualification. They just about managed that. 

The decisive moment back in May came five minutes after the break, when Levi Colwill bundled home from close range. It was enough, ultimately, to ensure that Chelsea met the expectations set for them at the start of the campaign. 

Last time out for Chelsea 

A stunning strike from Moises Caicedo and a last-minute goal from Estevao, who became the youngest Brazilian to score a winning goal in the Premier League, overturned Cody Gakpo's equaliser in a well-deserved 2-1 win for the Blues. The result ended a three-game winless run in the top flight as they overcame the reigning champions.

With their third win in seven Premier League matches of the 2025-26 season, the injury- and suspension-hit visitors are back within reach of the Champions League places. Chelsea currently sit seventh in the standings, three points behind fourth-placed Bournemouth.

View from the stands at Chelsea v Liverpool 

Team news for Maresca’s side

Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Joao Pedro, Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong are all expected to be fit, with Trevoh Chalobah available again following suspension.

Cole Palmer, however, is likely to miss this match as reports indicate the attacking midfielder could be out until November due to a persistent groin injury.

Key Chelsea stats ahead of this match

No team has seen more goals in their Premier League matches this season than Chelsea (22 – 13 scored, 9 conceded), with 13 of those goals coming in away fixtures (8 scored, 5 conceded). Only Burnley have scored more on the road (17).

Chelsea have won three of their last four Premier League away matches against Nottingham Forest (D1), including consecutive victories in their last two visits. The Blues have never before secured three successive away league wins over the Tricky Trees.

The Nottingham Forest perspective 

Forest manager Ange Postecoglou will be aiming for his first win in charge at the eighth attempt. 

The home side return from the international break still without Ola Aina, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin) and Douglas Luiz (hamstring) will both face late fitness checks ahead of the match.