The race for European places in the Premier League has gone right down to the wire, and the final matchday of the season presents fans with a mouth-watering play-in game that could change the fortunes of both participants.
Chelsea, barely clinging to a Champions League qualifying position, travel to Nottingham Forest who are hoping to play their way into such a spot. Both clubs are guaranteed to earn a berth somewhere in Europe next season, but which competition has yet to be determined.
It would take a defeat here plus outside results going against them to see Chelsea drop to secondary European competition, but it is a feasible outcome if they don’t produce a positive performance in this match.
Forest, meanwhile, come into this game sitting seventh in the table, a single point behind both Aston Villa and Chelsea above them. Afforded a chance to take care of business against a direct top-seven rival, Nuno Espirito Santo has a rare opportunity to kill two birds with one stone if they can finish the season strong.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides.
Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
The only absence for Nottingham Forest in their pivotal season finale is Taiwo Awoniyi, who suffered a scary injury crashing into the goal post in their draw with Leicester City two weeks ago.
The Forest striker was hospitalised after the incident and placed in an induced coma, and while he’s recovering well, he will understandably be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Nuno has come with the XI that beat West Ham last time out, meaning former Chelsea youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi has to be content with a place on the bench.
Nottingham Forest (4-3-2-1, right to left): Sels (GK) — Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams — Dominguez, Sangare, Anderson — Gibbs-White, Elanga — Wood
Injured: Awonyi (stomach)
Suspended: None
After his dismissal against Newcastle United two weeks ago, Nicolas Jackson was suspended for the final two matches of the season plus the first of 2025/26, meaning he will miss out again this weekend.
Enzo Maresca has plumped for Jadon Sancho, in what could be his final appearance for Chelsea. Sancho was ineligible to face parent club Manchester United last time out. Christopher Nkunku has failed to recover from a knock to make the bench.
Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman are looking to next season as they work back from long-term injuries.
Chelsea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella — Fernandez, Caicedo — Sancho, Palmer, Madueke — Neto
Injured: Nkunku (knock), Fofana (hamstring), Kellyman (hamstring)
Suspended: Jackson (red card), Mudryk (doping violation)
Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | USA Network, Universo | Fubo USA, NBC Sports app, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo |
| Canada | — | Fubo Canada |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky Go Extra |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema |
