Nottingham Forest host Chelsea at the City Ground on Saturday in a crucial Premier League clash that could define Ange Postecoglou’s early reign. The Australian boss, who is yet to record a win in seven games since taking charge, faces growing pressure after a poor run of form. Many expected him to be sacked during the international break, but the club opted for continuity, giving him another chance to turn things around.
As reported by SoftFootball, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has called his side a legendary and enormous club, words that reflect the contrasting energy between both camps heading into this tie.
The Blues, meanwhile, come into the fixture high on confidence after a 2–1 victory over Liverpool before the break, where Moisés Caicedo’s thunderbolt and Estevão’s late strike sealed the win, a result covered in detail by SoftFootball’s match report. With Chelsea’s injury list still long, Maresca will hope that his team can carry that same resilience on the road, even as his own touchline ban keeps him in the stands.
Team News
Forest are sweating over the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz, while Chris Wood and Ola Aina remain out. Postecoglou may turn to Igor Jesus up front, with Murillo possibly returning in central defence.
Chelsea’s situation isn’t much better—Palmer, Fofana, and Santos are doubtful, while Reece James and Enzo Fernández both picked up minor knocks on international duty. Maresca will serve a one-match touchline ban after his wild celebration against Liverpool.
Possible Lineups
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Dominguez; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Estêvão, Buonanotte, Neto; Pedro.
Chelsea posted about the match with the caption “Forest next” on their official X account, indicating their preparedness.
SoftFootball’s Prediction
Despite Forest’s home support, Chelsea look more likely to take the points. The Blues’ midfield pairing of Caicedo and Lavia should dictate the game’s tempo, while Neto and Estêvão threaten on the break. Forest’s leaky defence, which has conceded ten goals in their last five games, remains a major concern.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1–2 Chelsea.
