17 October 2025
The Premier League returns after the international break on 18th October 2025, and that too with an interesting clash between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at the City Ground. While Chelsea arrives brimming with renewed confidence from their win against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest is in a desperate attempt to play catch-up after their loss against Newcastle United. Time will tell if Chelsea gets arrogant or if Nottingham Forest will slide further down the table.
Forest has had a rocky start this season, suffering at the bottom of the table. The team’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, and his men have struggled to get into a comfortable rhythm on both fronts, attack and defence. Their backline has been caught lacking many times this season, and the forwards have not been able to convert the limited chances they got. Postecoglou will be under immense pressure not to suffer a shameful defeat, and with a fixture against a top-tier team like Chelsea, the tension must be ramped up for the team.
The visitors, on the other hand, are coming in thrilled, having secured a thrilling win over Liverpool before the international break. The late victory after their disappointing performance in September has meant the team is slowly coming into shape under Enza Maresca, the Chelsea manager. However, the Blues are still plagued by inconsistency; if they get soft from their previous win, the already fired-up Forest could scoop up a tie or even a victory.
The Blues have a lot of headaches because of issues like the one-match touchline ban for the manager and key players such as Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, and Reece James being sidelined either due to injuries or national team matches. But on the positive side, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Wesley Fofana could return, thus giving a much-needed depth to their defence. Maresaca is likely to continue with their possession-dominant style with Caicedo as the team’s midfield anchor.
Forest is also on their own injury woes, with Ola Aina out for the long term and with doubts lingering over Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz. These absences are leaving gaps in the full-back and midfield sections. Postecoglou might have to revert to a more conservative setup, entrenching the defence line and playing for quick counterattacks through Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi.
Expect Chelsea to dominate possession, patiently probing Forest’s shape before switching play to exploit wide areas. The Londoners may rely heavily on full-backs and inverted wingers to stretch the hosts, with Nicolas Jackson expected to lead the line.
Forest’s approach will hinge on discipline. A compact midfield and counter-attacking transitions will be crucial if they are to unsettle Chelsea’s high line. However, early pressure from the visitors could force mistakes and silence the home crowd.
Both sides have plenty to prove, but Chelsea’s superior depth and form should prevail. Forest may start brightly, but sustaining intensity against Chelsea’s technical quality will be tough.
Predicted Score: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Chelsea
Chelsea are expected to edge another hard-fought encounter, keeping their European ambitions alive while Forest’s struggles continue.
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