The last stretch of the Premier League season is upon us, and the battle in all areas of the table is red hot.
As mentioned many times before, Arsenal and Manchester City are in an all-out battle to see who gets the title. However, for now, we are not looking into the top but diverting our attention to the middle of the board, as we are currently interested in the 7th placed Chelsea in its last-ditch effort to take over a Europa League spot. They face the 17th, Nottingham Forest, who are trying to secure their Premier League status.
This upcoming match has high stakes for both teams, so we expect them to be at their best.
When:
Saturday, May 11th, 12:30 pm ET at the City Ground
Betting Odds:
Nottingham Forest 3.615
Chelsea 2.005
Draw Offs:
4.16
Where can I watch it?
ESPN
Why Bet on Nottingham Forest?
The hosts come from a victory, giving them some breathing room as they were in the relegation zone not too long ago. However, they need to either get a little bit more or hope that Luton Town choke in their next match to make sure they don’t have to worry about relegation anymore.
Led by Nuno Espirito Santo, they have shown resilience despite their precarious league position. Their strategy involves robust defensive setups transitioning into quick counter-attacks, utilizing the pace and agility of players like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Taiwo Awoniyi.
However, They have not been so effective so far as they have scored 45 goals and taken 65 in their campaign. Either way, they need just a couple of points more to be tranquil.
Why Bet on Chelsea?
The visitors are placed 7th in the league with 15 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses. They are coming from a two-match win streak, which should be enough momentum to end the season well.
Chelsea has already massively improved from last season, and for the first time in plenty of time, they are in European competition places (Conference, in principle). Undoubtedly, having one of the best goal-scorers of the season, Cole Palmer (21,) has helped them grow.
However, the team’s defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed, particularly in away games, suggesting a potential area for Forest to exploit. We must add that the level when Palmer doesn’t play is also awful, showing the lack of squad quality outside the interesting forward line featuring the English man and Jackson. The absence of a reference in defense apart from the aging Silvan and the injury-prone James is notorious.
Final Betting Analysis:Â Nottingham Forest vs. ChelseaÂ
Chelsea’s Palmer and Forest’s Hudson-Odoi will carry much of the creative burden. Cole’s knack for finding space and executing precise finishes will test the Tricky Trees’ center-backs, likely Willy Boly and Scott McKenna, whose physical presence has been vital in their fight against Premier League relegation.
Nottingham Forest has demonstrated resilience at the City Ground, managing to secure crucial points in key games. Both teams have significant reasons to avoid a loss: Chelsea in pursuit of European qualification and Forest battling relegation.
We expect a draw to be the likely outcome as both may settle in a cautious approach, especially towards the end of the match. Go for a 1-1.
Go for a draw at 4.16. If you bet $100 at such odds, you could get $316 for a total payout of $416.