Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Coral's detailed preview for Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea in the Premier League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 12:30 BST match.

• Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea

• Date: Saturday, 18 October 2025

• Kick-off: 12:30 BST

• Venue: The City Ground

Match Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest's recent form has been challenging, with four losses and one draw in their last five matches. They've struggled to score, managing only one goal in this period, which suggests they might find it difficult to break down Chelsea's defence. However, playing at home could provide some motivation, and they might look to exploit any defensive lapses from Chelsea, who have shown some vulnerability in recent games.

Chelsea have had mixed results, with two wins, two losses, and a draw in their last five outings. Their ability to score, as seen in their victories against Liverpool and Fulham, could be crucial against a Forest side that has been defensively porous. The match might hinge on Chelsea's ability to capitalise on their attacking prowess while maintaining a solid defensive structure against a Forest team that’s desperate for points.

Nottingham Forest's recent form has been poor, with four losses and one draw in their last five matches. They've struggled to find the net, scoring only once in these games, which indicates a lack of attacking threat. This could impact their confidence going into the match against Chelsea, making it crucial for them to find a way to break their scoring drought.

Playing at home might offer some advantage, but their defensive record, conceding ten goals in five games, suggests they will need to be more resilient if they are to get anything from this game. Their performance against Chelsea will likely depend on whether they can shore up their defence and find a way to be more effective in attack.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Newcastle United (A)

• Loss: 0-1 vs Sunderland (H)

• Draw: 1-1 vs Burnley (A)

• Loss: 0-3 vs Arsenal (A)

• Loss: 0-3 vs West Ham United (H)

Chelsea have shown inconsistency in their recent form, with two wins, two losses, and a draw in their last five matches. Their ability to score, as demonstrated by their victories against Liverpool and Fulham, is a positive sign. However, their defensive lapses, especially in the losses to Brighton and Manchester United, are a concern.

Against Nottingham Forest, Chelsea will need to balance their attacking flair with a more solid defensive performance. If they can maintain their scoring form while tightening up at the back, they should have the upper hand in this match.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Win: 2-1 vs Liverpool (H)

• Loss: 1-3 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

• Loss: 1-2 vs Manchester United (A)

• Draw: 2-2 vs Brentford (A)

• Win: 2-0 vs Fulham (H)

The head-to-head record between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea shows a competitive history, with Chelsea winning two of the last five encounters and Nottingham Forest securing one victory. The most recent match in May this year ended with a 1-0 away win for Chelsea, while the previous meeting in October 2024 resulted in a 1-1 draw.

This suggests that while Chelsea have had the upper hand recently, Nottingham Forest are capable of challenging them, as evidenced by their win in September 2023.

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea (25 May 2025)

• Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest (06 Oct 2024)

• Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea (11 May 2024)

• Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest (02 Sep 2023)

• Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest (13 May 2023)

• Ola Aina (Hamstring) - Out

• Oleksandr Zinchenko (Muscle) - Doubt

• Douglas Luiz (Hamstring) - Doubt

• Chris Wood (Knee) - Doubt

• Levi Colwill (Cruciate Ligament) - Out

• Liam Delap (Hamstring) - Out

• Dario Essugo (Surgery) - Doubt

• Cole Palmer (Groin) - Doubt

• Tosin Adarabioyo (Calf) - Doubt

• Wesley Fofana (Concussion) - Doubt

• Andrey Santos (Unknown) - Doubt

• Enzo Fernandez (Knee) - Doubt

• Predicted lineup: Sels, Cunha, Milenković, Morato, Savona, Yates, Anderson, Williams, Gibbs-White, Wood (If fit), Ndoye

Nottingham Forest's predicted lineup suggests a focus on maintaining a solid defensive structure with players like Morato and Milenković, while relying on the creativity of Gibbs-White and Ndoye to spark their attack. Given their recent struggles to score, they will need to be more clinical in front of goal to challenge Chelsea.

• Predicted lineup: Sánchez, James, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella, Gusto, Caicedo, Neto, Fernández (If fit), Garnacho, Pedro

Chelsea's predicted lineup indicates a strong emphasis on their attacking options with players like Pedro, Garnacho, and Neto, while also maintaining a robust midfield with Fernández and Caicedo. Their recent form suggests they need to be more defensively disciplined to secure a win against Nottingham Forest.

• Jair Cunha vs Marc Cucurella: This duel will see Nottingham Forest's towering defender Cunha trying to contain Chelsea's attacking full-back Cucurella.

• Ryan Yates vs Moisés Caicedo: Nottingham Forest's midfielder Yates will look to outmanoeuvre Chelsea's anchor in midfield, Caicedo.

• Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest): Anderson, a key midfielder for Nottingham Forest, will be crucial in dictating the tempo and breaking up Chelsea's attacks.

• Malo Gusto (Chelsea): Gusto, a vital part player for Chelsea, will be essential in driving forward and creating scoring opportunities.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.