Nottingham Forest FC vs Crystal Palace, English Premier League 2025-26, Today Match Prediction

Nottingham Forest FC vs Crystal Palace Match Prediction & Analysis

Amid Sunday’s packed Premier League schedule comes a bottom-half  battle as Crystal Palace visit Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (7:30 PM IST). 

Both arrive with contrasting momentum—Palace, desperate for a turnaround after another league defeat and a worrying winless stretch, while Forest come in buoyed by a string of solid displays capped by a statement victory in their last league outing.

Current Standings: At present Nottingham Forest  are placed 17th in the points table with 25 points, while Crystal Palace finds itself at 15th spot with 28 points. 

Head-to-Head Record: Crystal Palace are yet to win in this rivalry of 11 matches where Forest have won four.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Nottingham Forest FC Preview

Nottingham Forest enter this one on a high after a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over eighth-placed Brentford, with Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi on the scoresheet. What made it more impressive was the context. They went into the contest knowing West Ham’s earlier win had cranked up the pressure in the relegation race, and they’d failed to score in their previous two outings. 

But they delivered when it mattered, securing three vital points to open up a five-point cushion over the Hammers. Add to that their three-match unbeaten run in the league (W2 D1), and the Tricky Trees arrive on Match day 24 with momentum.

Stats that matter 

1. The win against Brentford was the first time since 1997 that Forest have secured consecutive top-flight victories in the capital having won 2-1 at West Ham in their last Premier League away game.
2. Only Wolves (15) have scored fewer goals than Forest (23) in the league this season.
3. Nottingham Forest have gone without a win at home in the last three league matches (L2 D1). 

Team News 

In a major setback for the Tricky Trees, their first-choice goalkeeper John Victor has been sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Beyond that, the squad has no new fitness worries or suspensions.

Nottingham Forest  Probable XI - Sels (GK); Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus. 

Crystal Palace Preview

Elsewhere, Palace’s winless run stretched to 11 matches across all competitions as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat against Chelsea, marking their ninth league loss of the season. To compound their misery, key midfielder Adam Wharton saw red after picking up a second yellow, leaving them further depleted for Sunday’s fixture. In short, the only consolation they got from the game was that goal from Chris Richards. 

Off the pitch, the clouds are gathering too. Reports suggest Jean-Philippe Mateta, a key part of Palace’s attack, is open to a move before the end of the transfer window. Losing him would be a major setback for a side already adjusting to life without Marc Guéhi. With uncertainty brewing inside the camp, the atmosphere feels fragile that Palace fans will hope not to snowball into a deeper crisis.

Stats that matter 

1. The current stretch of 11 winless games is the 2nd longest run of winless games that they had since  2023, which lasted for 13 games.
2. Crystal Palace have lost six of their last eight  Premier League games.
3. The Eagles have registered only one win in their last 12 matches across all competitions. 

Team News 

Crystal Palace have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the weekend, though they will be without midfielder Adam Wharton, who misses out through suspension.

Crystal Palace Probable XI - Henderson (GK); Canvot, Lacroix, Richards, Lerma, Munoz, Hughes, Mitchell, Brennan Johnson, Sarr, Mateta. 

NOTTINGHAM FOREST FC vs CRYSTAL PALACE
Winning Prediction

Nottingham Forest arrive unbeaten for the first time in months, and taking points off two top-10 sides underlines a hint of resurgence. Add to that a ten-game unbeaten run against Palace across competitions, and confidence will be high at the City Ground on Sunday. 

For the Eagles, it looks grim, poor form and a winless Premier League record against the Tricky Trees make this a tough ask. All signs point towards Forest as the clear favourites to take three points. 

Nottingham Forest to win (1-0)

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