Chelsea return from the October international break at lunchtime on Saturday and head to the City Ground to put more pressure on struggling Nottingham Forest.
The Blues, who enter the October international break with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over defending Premier League champions Liverpool, should be sniffing out a golden opportunity outside west London this weekend.
Ange Postecoglou may have only been in charge at the City Ground for less than a month, but the former Tottenham boss has found the pressure on his shoulders reaching a boiling point, and the Forest manager now looks set to face an even tougher test.
We’ve taken a look at some of the most attractive Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea bet builder tips as the reigning Europa League champions aim to break into the top four.
Great opportunity for the Blues
Chelsea may not have been able to find much stability since the start of the new season, but Enzo Maresca’s side certainly entered the October two-week interval with a strong scalp at Stamford Bridge.
The former Leicester manager will feel he has a golden opportunity this weekend after recording his side’s first Premier League win since the end of August with an impressive 2-1 win at home to historic rivals Liverpool.
Chelsea, who secured their first Champions League win with a 1-0 home win over Portuguese giants Benfica last month, have won three of their last four appearances in all competitions.
Maresca’s side will also be excited about their latest trip to the City Ground, having avoided the infamous EFL Cup exit to League One side Lincoln on September 23 with an eventual 2-1 win.
They concluded the 2024/25 season with a 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest on 25 May, but it is also worth noting that the Blues have picked up seven points from their last three trips to Nottingham in the Premier League.
Bet Builder Tip: Chelsea Win @ 1/1 and 1x bet
Ange’s victory or defeat
Postecoglou may have only arrived at the City Ground last month, but it’s no secret that the former Spurs manager is attracting a lot of attention, with suggestions that another defeat on Saturday could put the final nail in his coffin.
Forest lost 2-0 away at Newcastle, their last appearance coming into the October international break, but Forest have lost each of their past three appearances by a combined score of 6-2.
With an infamous 3-2 defeat at home to Denmark’s Midtylland on October 2nd, Saturday’s hosts fell to the ground again for the first time since last season’s record-breaking run.
Indeed, despite opening the game with a 3-1 win against Brentford on August 17, Forest are currently without a win in any of their last nine consecutive appearances in all competitions.
They look set to return this weekend with just a one-point buffer from falling into the relegation zone, but there is certainly a sense that the City Ground are already calling for further and more immediate changes to the dugout.
Bet Builder Tip: Nico Williams went 4/7 with over 0.5 fouls BetUS
Chelsea still searching for defensive strength
Chelsea may have gone into October’s two-week interval with a sensational last-minute win over the defending champions, but Maresca will no doubt be hoping the team can find key defensive steel.
Saturday’s guests, who ended September with a 3-1 defeat at Brighton and a crushing defeat in west London, have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven appearances in all competitions.
Chelsea have yet to record consecutive clean sheets since the start of the new season, although their Champions League adventure began with another 3-1 loss to German giants Bayern Munich on September 17th.
Similarly, Chelsea have scored six goals in their last three games outside west London, including a disappointing 2-1 away defeat to historic rivals Manchester United last month.
Indeed, despite ending last season with a 1-0 win at the City Ground, this is the only Premier League clean sheet Maresca’s side have recorded on the road since the beginning of April.
Bet Builder Tip: Morgan Gibbs-White, 7/5 with over 0.5 shots on target at Dachbet
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea bet builder tips
- chelsea victory
- Nico Williams commits over 0.5 fouls
- Morgan Gibbs-White, over 0.5 shots on target
Odds – with 6/1 vegas land
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