Prediction Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea 2025/2026 – Betting Tips for the Premier League on 18/10/2025

Context and recent form

This early-season clash at The City Ground carries a clear narrative: struggling hosts against a rejuvenated Chelsea side. Nottingham Forest sit 17th after seven league games, with a solitary win, two draws and four defeats leaving them with just five points. Their recent run, highlighted in the match report, reads brutally — a sequence dominated by losses and a solitary win tucked among more draws and disappointments. Defensive frailties are glaring: twelve goals conceded in seven matches and no clean sheets to show for their efforts. The latest defeat at Newcastle, a 2-0 reverse, underlined the issues at the back and saw goalkeeper Matz Sels named the best performer in that game, a small positive in an otherwise grim picture.

Chelsea arrive in Nottingham in far steadier mood. Sitting seventh with eleven points, Chelsea have found the net 13 times and kept two clean sheets across the same seven-game sample. Their form includes notable wins over Liverpool and Benfica, and a tightly contested victory at Anfield saw Marc Cucurella earn the match’s top rating. While not flawless — a couple of losses and a draw pepper the results — Chelsea’s balance between attack and defence is evident in the superior shot and goals numbers and a higher attack average. The Blues’ recent 2-1 win over Liverpool showcased their ability to grind out results against top opposition.

Statistical edges and match dynamics

The underlying data tilts towards Chelsea. They produce more shots, more shots on target, and boast a higher attack-average figure. Nottingham Forest are generating fewer scoring opportunities and conceding at a troubling rate, which is compounded by zero clean sheets so far. Chelsea have converted their chances more effectively and kept opponents out on multiple occasions, indicating a team more comfortable on both ends of the pitch. Head-to-head history from the last season’s meeting also favours the visitors: Chelsea edged Forest 1-0 when they met in late May.

The atmosphere at The City Ground will be intense — a 30,445 capacity setting where Nottingham will hope home support galvanises a turnaround. Yet the numbers suggest the turning of the tide has already begun favouring Chelsea, who look better equipped to exploit Forest’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Referee and other match details

Chris Kavanagh is listed as the referee for the fixture, and the match is scheduled to kick off on 18/10/2025 at 11:30:00. Venue familiarity should be a boost for Nottingham, but form, recent results and attacking metrics make Chelsea the clearer side on paper.

Betting suggestion On the balance of form, attacking output and bookmaker pricing, the strongest single-market play is a 1X2 selection for an away win: Chelsea to win at the offered price of 1.93 (implied probability 51.81%). Chelsea’s superior goal return, better shot metrics and recent victories — including their 2-1 success over Liverpool with Marc Cucurella outstanding — make them the most likely to take three points from this encounter.x