Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest
Kickoff Time: 2026-5-4 22:00 (HKT)
Chelsea secured a narrow 1-0 home win over Leeds United in last week’s FA Cup, sealing their spot in the final and putting an end to their three-game losing streak. Following the disappointing dismissal of Liam Rosenior, interim manager Calum McFarlane took charge of Chelsea once again. Instead of completely overhauling his predecessor’s tactical system upon taking office, McFarlane focused on reuniting the players, bringing about a full reset of the team’s mentality and dressing room atmosphere. Against Leeds United’s high press, Chelsea adopted a more direct passing style when transitioning from defence to attack. McFarlane instructed his players to abandon short build-up play and switch to long balls to break through the opposition’s high pressing. When facing Leeds’ second-half comeback attempt, McFarlane ordered the team to drop back and defend their narrow lead. Undoubtedly, McFarlane’s tactical decisions were pivotal to Chelsea’s victory.
Nottingham Forest claimed a 1-0 home win against Aston Villa in the midweek Europa League fixture, gaining the upper hand in the two-legged tie. The club has seen three managerial changes this season: starting with Nuno, followed by Ange Postecoglou — whose style is vastly different — then Sean Dyche, and now the Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira. Constant shifts in management have led to frequent changes in the team’s tactical approach. Pereira’s system is built around high pressing, creating threats through quick counter-attacks and set pieces. He does not prioritize flashy possession stats or intricate tactical combinations, only demanding his side score goals through simple and straightforward play. Since Pereira’s appointment, Nottingham Forest have undergone a remarkable turnaround. They are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions and currently riding a four-game winning streak.
Despite Nottingham Forest’s impressive recent form, Chelsea hold the edge in overall squad quality. Furthermore, Forest were drained by their midweek European fixture and are visibly less fresh than Chelsea, who have enjoyed a full week of rest. All factors considered, Chelsea, with home advantage in this clash, are worthy of being tipped as the favourites.
Chelsea ‘s Last 5 Games: WLLLW
26-04-26 Chelsea 1-0 Leeds United
26-04-22 Brighton 3-0 Chelsea
26-04-19 Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United
26-04-12 Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City
26-04-05 Chelsea 7-0 Port Vale
Nottingham Forest ‘s Last 5 Games: WWWWD
26-05-01 Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
26-04-25 Sunderland 0-5 Nottingham Forest
26-04-19 Nottingham Forest 4-1 Burnley
26-04-17 Nottingham Forest 1-0 Porto
26-04-12 Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa
Head-To-Head Record
25-10-18 Nottingham Forest 0-3 Chelsea
25-05-25 Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
24-10-06 Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
24-05-12 Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
23-09-02 Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Prediction: Chelsea home win