Prediction Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest 2025/2026 season – Betting Tips for the Premier League on 24/08/2025

A clash at Selhurst Park with plenty to prove

Selhurst Park will be buzzing on 24 August as Crystal Palace welcome Nottingham Forest in what promises to be an engaging second-round Premier League fixture. Palace come into the game having picked up a hard-earned point away at Chelsea last time out, a 0-0 draw that showcased a disciplined defensive display led by the team’s recent form momentum. Eberechi Eze was the standout performer in that match and his influence in midfield remains a key component of Palace’s attacking transitions. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, arrive off a bright 3-1 win over Brentford that underlined their capacity to hurt opponents in the final third; Chris Wood’s top-rated performance in that fixture is a timely reminder that Forest possess clear finishing threat when they click.

Form lines, styles and what the numbers say

Looking beneath the headline results, the two sides offer contrasting profiles. Crystal Palace’s recent sequence contains a healthy mixture of draws and wins, and at home they’ve shown they can be hard to break down — their clean sheet against Chelsea is fresh evidence. Palace’s attacking numbers show an average of 12 shots with four on target in the most recent sample, while their defensive discipline is reflected in a decent clean-sheet return.

Nottingham Forest present a more aggressive statistical picture. Their attacks average sits notably higher, and their dangerous attacks figure is almost three times Palace’s, suggesting Forest will look to impose themselves and test Selhurst Park’s backline repeatedly. Their last outing produced four combined goals and demonstrates they are not shy about taking risks going forward.

The recent head-to-head meeting ended 1-1 earlier in the campaign, reinforcing the idea this fixture often produces tight scorelines with moments of quality from both sides. The odds slightly favour Palace at home (2.35), with the draw and Nottingham Forest trailing closely behind, indicating bookmakers expect a competitive contest rather than a runaway result.

Tactical battle and refereeing angle

Referee Anthony Taylor will take charge, and his experience in big games often means matches are decided by fine margins rather than officiating controversies. Palace’s structured approach and home advantage at Selhurst Park — a compact venue that encourages spirited home support — may just be enough to stifle Forest’s more expansive style. Nottingham’s willingness to attack could open pockets for Palace on the counter, especially if Eze is allowed time on the ball to orchestrate transitions.

Betting suggestion Crystal Palace to win (1) at odds 2.35. Backing Palace on the 1X2 market is the preferred option here: home advantage, recent defensive solidity and the marginal favoritism in the betting market all point to a narrow Palace victory being the likeliest outcome.