Crystal Palace — Nottingham Forest : Match Preview and Prediction for August 24,2025

Crystal Palace’s Offensive Woes

The Eagles approach this match in a state of disarray. The pivotal news, which effectively cripples the team’s entire attacking potential, is the sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal. More than just a player, a true talisman has departed – the orchestrator of all attacks, a footballer who could single-handedly turn the tide of an encounter. Without him, creativity in Palace’s front line plummets to a critically low level.

Injury Crisis Deepens

The situation is further exacerbated by an injury epidemic. Cheik Doucouré, Matheus França, Daichi Kamada, and striker Eddie Nketiah are all sidelined in the infirmary. Oliver Glasner is operating with a very thin squad, severely limiting his ability to inject fresh energy into the game. Their UEFA Conference League match on Thursday against Fredrikstad vividly demonstrated this.

Struggling with Finishing

Indeed, Palace secured a 1-0 victory, but at what cost? The team registered 25 shots on goal, yet only 5 of them hit the target. With an Expected Goals (xG) metric of 2.31, scoring just one goal points to significant issues with conversion. Without Eze, creating chances has become more challenging, and finishing them, as evident, is almost impossible for the current squad. Furthermore, the team faced a demanding schedule with a Thursday fixture, which certainly doesn’t contribute to their freshness.

Nottingham Forest’s Internal Turmoil

While the ‘Forest’ indeed kicked off the season with a 3-1 victory over Brentford, featuring a brace from Chris Wood, this result shouldn’t mislead anyone. Complete chaos currently reigns within the club, directly impacting all operations. Head coach Nuno Espírito Santo is reportedly in open conflict with the management and the new sporting director, Edu.

Managerial Uncertainty

His relationship with the club owner has soured, and the coach himself publicly stated, ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire,’ hinting at his potential dismissal. There’s a real possibility he might not even be in charge of the team on Sunday. Imagine the state of players preparing for a match, uncertain if their coach will remain. Such uncertainty cripples any attacking mindset.

Pre-Season Struggles & Key Absences

One shouldn’t overlook their pre-season preparation either. In seven friendly matches, Forest failed to secure a single victory, with five of them ending in goalless draws. The team faced tremendous difficulties in creating and converting chances. The win against Brentford, amidst internal discord, appears more like an anomaly than a trend. Furthermore, key midfielder Nicolás Domínguez will be unavailable due to injury.