In a thrilling Champions League charge, Nottingham Forest will face Tottenham at the City Ground on Boxing Day. Forest, under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo, have emerged as England’s ultimate surprise package this season. After spending last season fighting relegation, Forest have made a remarkable rise and currently find themselves in the Champions League spots. With their eyes set on securing a European ticket in 2025, Forest have received well-deserved praise for their performances. Last weekend, they secured a 2-0 victory against Brentford, adding to their impressive run of 12 points from their last five Premier League matches. Their statement win against Manchester United earlier this month has further boosted their confidence, and they will be eager to claim another heavyweight scalp.
Nottingham Forest will be without midfield duo Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare due to injury. However, there are no fresh injury concerns for Santo’s side ahead of the Boxing Day clash. Former Newcastle striker Chris Wood, who has already scored 10 Premier League goals this season, will lead Forest’s attack alongside Anthony Elanga, who has found the net in back-to-back games.
On the other hand, Tottenham’s journey has been a rollercoaster ride. Despite their thrilling 4-3 win against Manchester United in the EFL Cup last week, they suffered a devastating 6-3 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s manager, is under pressure as his team struggles to find stability. Their only Premier League victory since November was a 5-0 triumph against relegation-threatened Southampton. Defensive issues have plagued Tottenham, with just one clean sheet in their last eight outings. Currently in the bottom half of the table, Tottenham faces another tough challenge on Thursday.
Tottenham will be without goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who is recovering from ankle surgery. Defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are doubtful due to injuries that kept them out of the Liverpool match. Rodrigo Bentancur is still serving a domestic suspension and will not feature at the City Ground. Dominic Solanke, who has scored six Premier League goals since joining from Bournemouth, will lead the line for Nottingham.
Key factors to consider in this matchup include Tottenham’s 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in their last meeting in April and Tottenham’s three consecutive Premier League wins against Forest, with a combined score of 8-2. However, Tottenham has only won two of their last eight matches in all competitions. In contrast, Nottingham Forest has collected 12 points from their last five Premier League games and has won four of their last five home matches.
In conclusion, Nottingham Forest’s impressive win against Brentford has set the stage for another potential upset. With 12 points from their last five matches and a spot in the Champions League places, Forest will be confident in their abilities. Considering Tottenham’s recent struggles and defensive issues, we predict a draw no bet for Nottingham Forest. The best odds for this outcome are 4/5, available at Dachbet.
