Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea Prediction: Champions League Qualification Up for Grabs

• Both Nottingham Forest and Chelsea are in contention for the Champions League

• Chelsea will secure a top-five finish if they come out on top at the City Ground

• Nottingham Forest must beat Chelsea to have a chance of the Champions League

Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea Odds

The odds for Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea are provided by the bet365 Sportsbook. Click on the odds in the table below to head to bet365 Sportsbook and place your bets: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose

Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea Pick

Back Nottingham Forest to beat Chelsea in this titanic tussle at the City Ground on the final day of the Premier League season.

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Nottingham Forest on the Brink of a Magnificent Achievement

Whatever happens on Sunday, this has been a tremendous season for Nottingham Forest. A club which spent the last two campaigns battling relegation was tipped for another year of scrapping in the bottom half. Instead, Forest will qualify for Europe no matter what happens this weekend.

Needless to say, the celebrations would be louder and longer if Nuno Espirito Santo’s men made it into the Champions League rather than a lesser competition. But in the grand scheme of things, qualification for the Europa League (with a sixth-placed finish) or the Conference League (seventh) would be far from disastrous.

At the same time, there would be a sense of loss if Forest missed out on the Champions League. After all, a few weeks back it looked like they would get over the line comfortably. After a 1-0 victory over Manchester United on April 1, Forest had a 10-point lead over the team in sixth (although they had played more games at that point).

Fast forward to May 23 and Forest are now a point outside the top five. Because of their goal difference relative to others in the race, a draw would not be enough to qualify for the Champions League in any plausible scenarios. Forest must beat Chelsea, but even then they would need at least one of Newcastle United or Aston Villa to drop points.

“Since the beginning of the season we wanted to be in this fight (for the Champions League). We achieved it,” Nuno said in the build-up to Sunday.

“If you had said in the beginning it would be possible, you would have said no. But we are in it and the last game at the City Ground is going to be huge for us. It is trying to achieve something magical.”

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Chelsea Need Champions League Sooner Rather Than Later

It is easy to forget that Chelsea were crowned kings of the continent as recently as 2021. They have had a turbulent time of it since then, starting with the departure of Roman Abramovich as the club’s owner. A consortium led by Todd Boehly assumed control in 2022 and set about transforming the way Chelsea were run.

In the Abramovich era, the Blues adopted a ‘win at all costs’ approach. There was little talk of long-term projects at Stamford Bridge during that period. Chelsea wanted trophies and they wanted them yesterday. 

Even successful managers were dispensed with when results dropped off. Carlo Ancelotti won the domestic double in his debut campaign and nothing in his second season - so he was promptly sacked. Experienced players who were ready to win immediately were preferred to youthful prospects who might develop into top-class stars down the line.

Boehly and his colleagues changed all that. Chelsea suddenly became obsessed with buying young players and tying them down to long contracts. They have spent an extraordinary amount of money - around $1.2 billion - in the last three years, but as yet there is little to show for such vast expenditure. 

Chelsea have not competed in the Champions League since 2022/23, when they were comfortably beaten by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. It is vital that they return to Europe’s top table as soon as possible, but their fate hangs in the balance heading into the final weekend of the season.

“We won tonight (last Friday, against Manchester United) now it’s not about pressure or anyone else,” Enzo Maresca said after Chelsea’s last game. “It’s about us again. We need to be focused, prepare the game in the best way, and try to win the last game.”

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Perhaps Both Teams Will Miss Out on the Champions League

The best online sportsbooks have Chelsea down as favourites for this match, but we fancy a Nottingham Forest win at the City Ground, which will be bouncing from long before kick-off. Forest have won some massive matches on home turf over the last three years and this could be another one.

It is important to take Chelsea’s away form into account. In the Premier League table that only covers matches held at opposition grounds, Maresca’s men rank 11th. They have been particularly poor in front of rival fans in recent months: Chelsea have won only one of their last 10 away games in the Premier League.

Maresca’s charges have been heavily reliant on their home form this season, which is why the manager must wish his team had already wrapped up a place in the Champions League. Chelsea will be severely tested in the East Midlands this weekend.

Of course, Forest have dropped off in recent weeks and there are signs that fatigue has set in. But with one home game remaining, Nuno’s players should be able to lift themselves one last time. However, a Forest victory may well lead to both teams missing out on the Champions League.

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How to Watch Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea

• Teams: Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea

• Location: City Ground, Nottingham, England

• Date and Time: Sunday, 25 May 2025, 11:00 AM ET 

• How to Watch: USA Network