Preview: Chelsea vs Nottingham prediction, odds, where to watch, time | Premier League 2025-26
A clash that could have big implications at both ends of the table!
Chelsea and Nottingham Forest face off at Stamford Bridge on Monday night in a game that matters a lot for both ends of the table. The Blues are currently eighth with 48 points after 34 matches, putting them right in the thick of the race for Europe.
Meanwhile, Forest sit in 16th, five points above the relegation zone after back-to-back thumpings of Burnley (4-1) and Sunderland (5-0). Vitor Pereira’s men are on a seven-game unbeaten streak in the league, a run that has completely changed the mood around their survival hopes, though Pereira is still warning his players against getting too comfortable.
Chelsea’s season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, with manager changes and patchy form ruining any real hope of a title charge. Now under interim boss Calum McFarlane, the Blues looked much more solid at the back during their 1-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds, and they will want to bring that same grit into this one. On paper, Chelsea have the deeper squad and the home advantage, but Forest are playing with a lot of heart right now and have proven they can grind out results against the big hitters lately.
History is on Chelsea’s side here, but given Forest’s recent discipline and fight, they will fancy their chances of bagging at least a point in West London. Both sides know exactly what’s on the line, which should make this a much more intense scrap than the league standings might suggest.
Kick-off
- Location: London, England
- Stadium: Stamford Bridge
- Date: Monday, 4 May 2026
- Kick-off time: 14:00 UTC / 7:30 PM IST
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: In use
Form:
Chelsea: W-L-L-L-W
Nottingham Forest: W-W-W-W-D
Key Players to Watch
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Enzo Fernández is the real heartbeat of this team. He is involved in everything good for the Blues and has chipped in with goals and assists over the course of the season.
The Argentine bagged the winner against Leeds in the FA Cup and is the one pulling the strings from that number 10 spot. His vision and knack for finding space in tight areas will be vital if Chelsea are going to unlock a stubborn Forest defence.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
Chris Wood has just three goals so far this season across 733 minutes as he has endured an injury-hit season. The Kiwi captain is still the main man up top for Forest, providing that physical presence they need in the box.
While he hasn’t hit the 20-goal heights of last season, he’s still great at bullying defenders and holding the ball up to let guys like Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White get into the game. With Chelsea missing some key defenders, Wood’s aerial threat is a massive worry for them.
Match Facts:
- Chelsea rank 4th in xG.
- Forest are unbeaten in nine matches and have scored 12 in their last five.
- Gibbs-White has 10 league goals in 15 matches since January, including a hat-trick against Burnley.
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest Betting Tips and Odds:
- Chelsea to win: 1.56 (1Win)
- Both teams to not score: 1.86 (Winmatch)
- Total goals under 2.5: 1.78 (1xBet)
Injuries and Team News:
Chelsea are dealing with a bit of an injury crisis. They’ll be without Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspension), Filip Jörgensen, Estêvão, and Jamie Gittens. With Jörgensen out with a groin problem, Robert Sánchez will start between the sticks. Levi Colwill and Reece James are back in training and could return to the squad.
Nottingham Forest have their own fair share of absentees. Dan Ndoye and Murillo are both doubts, while John Victor is out until June with a knee issue. Nicolò Savona is finished for the season, and Willy Boly won’t be back until late May. Callum Hudson-Odoi is also out long-term with a muscle injury. Losing Savona and Boly has forced Pereira to keep shuffling his backline all spring.
Head To Head Stats:
- Total matches (last 10): 10
- Chelsea wins: 6
- Nottingham Forest wins: 1
- Draws: 3
Predicted Starting Lineups
Chelsea Predicted Starting Lineup (4-4-1-1):
Robert Sánchez; Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Jorrel Hato; Pedro Neto, Roméo Lavia, Moisés Caicedo, Marc Cucurella; Enzo Fernández; Liam Delap
Nottingham Forest Predicted Starting Lineup (4-4-2):
Matz Sels; Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Jair Cunha, Neco Williams; Omari Hutchinson, Ibrahim Sangaré, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White; Igor Jesus, Chris Wood
Match Prediction:
Chelsea’s home form and the general new manager lift under McFarlane make them the favourites here. Forest have been great lately, but their away record is poor, averaging only 0.5 points per game on the road compared to Chelsea’s 1.75 at home. That gap in quality and travel form is hard to ignore. Expect the Bridge to be a bridge too far for a Forest squad that’s looking a bit thin due to injuries and their European run.
Predicted Scoreline: Chelsea 2–0 Nottingham Forest
Telecast Details
India: JioHotstar, Star Sports Network
UK: TNT Sports and Sky Sports
USA: NBC Sports
Nigeria: SuperSport
What is the current form of both teams heading into the Monday night clash at Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea recently secured a morale-boosting 1-0 FA Cup win over Leeds, while Nottingham Forest enters the match on an impressive seven-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League.
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