Match Overview

Nottingham Forest welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the City Ground in a Premier League clash with important points on the line for both sides. Forest seek stability after a mixed run that blends promise with defensive questions, while Spurs arrive with strong recent scoring form away from home. The last league meeting ended in a Forest win, adding intrigue to a fixture where styles and momentum could swing the balance. With conditions likely to be slick, execution in transitions and at set pieces may prove decisive.

• Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur
• Competition: Premier League
• Venue: The City Ground
• Date: 14-12-2025
• Kickoff: 14:00 GMT / 14:00 UTC

Predicted Lineups

Nottingham Forest

• M. Sels
• N. Milenkovic
• N. Williams
• N. Savona
• Morato
• E. Anderson
• M. Gibbs-White
• I. Sangare
• C. Hudson-Odoi
• D. Ndoye
• Igor Jesus

Tottenham Hotspur

• G. Vicario
• Pedro Porro
• M. van de Ven
• D. Spence
• C. Romero
• M. Kudus
• João Palhinha
• R. Bentancur
• P. Sarr
• Richarlison
• R. Kolo Muani

Injury & Suspension Report

Nottingham Forest

• M. Sels – Groin Injury
• T. Awoniyi – Muscle Injury
• O. Aina – Hamstring Injury
• A. Gunn – Knee Injury
• C. Wood – Knee Injury
• R. Yates – Thigh Injury

Tottenham Hotspur

• Y. Bissouma – Ankle Injury
• D. Solanke – Ankle Injury
• K. Takai – Foot Injury
• D. Kulusevski – Knee Injury
• J. Maddison – Knee Injury
• R. Drăgușin – Knee Injury
• D. Udogie – Muscle Injury

Head-to-Head

Across 88 historical meetings, Tottenham lead with 46 wins to Nottingham Forest’s 26, with 16 draws. The last seven clashes have averaged just over 2.5 goals, and Forest won the most recent Premier League meeting 2-1.

Match Analysis & Prediction

Forest enter with three wins in five, reflecting progress in a plan built on compact shapes and quick transitions. They have scored seven in that run, but the 3-0 defeat at Everton underlined how sustained pressure can unsettle their back line. At home, they will look to keep distances tight, move the ball forward early to runners like C. Hudson-Odoi and D. Ndoye, and rely on M. Gibbs-White to connect midfield to the front.

Tottenham sit mid-table with 22 points from 15 matches and have been productive on the road, scoring 11 across their last five away games. Their performances against similarly ranked opposition have been mixed (one draw, one loss) with a goals profile of roughly one scored for every 1.5 conceded. M. van de Ven’s return and four away goals in 11 away appearances add an extra threat from deeper positions, complementing the presence of Richarlison and R. Kolo Muani.

Nottingham Forest and Spurs clash in a high-stakes derby where the City Ground’s gritty edge meets London flair.

The key tactical battle should be in midfield. Forest’s trio of E. Anderson, I. Sangare and M. Gibbs-White must manage Spurs’ engine room of João Palhinha, R. Bentancur and P. Sarr, while keeping tabs on M. Kudus between the lines. If Forest can slow Tottenham’s circulation and spring counters into space behind the full-backs, they can reproduce the disciplined approach that earned a 2-1 victory in April.

Defensively, Forest will lean on N. Milenkovic, N. Williams, N. Savona and Morato to contain Spurs’ direct runs and set-piece threats. For Tottenham, C. Romero and M. van de Ven anchor a back line that can step high, but that approach may leave gaps if Forest transition quickly. Pedro Porro and D. Spence offer width, and their positioning will influence how often Forest can isolate defenders in wide channels.

Both squads manage absences: Forest list several injuries, while Spurs are without creative options like J. Maddison and D. Kulusevski. Even so, Tottenham’s away scoring trend suggests they can create enough chances, while Forest’s home intensity and recent form point to a competitive contest likely decided by small margins.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to edge a tight game, 2-1.