Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview and team news

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·21 April 2025

Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview and team news

Tottenham Hotspur entertain Nottingham Forest tonight, whose ambitions of Champions League qualification are in danger of slipping away.

Forest have dropped outside of the Premier League top five after losing their last two matches.

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The club’s success this campaign can partly be attributed to their overall clean bill of health. Nuno Espirito Santo has been able to field a similar team each week – with the consistency in personnel assisting their rise up the table.

That said, the influential Ola Aina and striker Taiwo Awoniyi have both missed the last two defeats to Aston Villa and Everton. Aina is struggling with a calf issue while Awoniyi is nursing a hamstring injury. Aside from the Nigerian pair, Nuno has a full squad at his disposal.

Ange Postecoglou proved a lot of critics wrong during the week as he guided Tottenham into the semi-finals of the Europa League.

James Maddison played a vital role in Dominic Solanke’s penalty winner as it was his bravery that resulted in the goalkeeper clattering into him. The midfielder is still dealing with the effects of the collision, which has jeopardised his chances of featuring tonight.

Spurs skipper Heung-min Son didn’t travel to Germany due to a foot injury and hasn’t recovered in time to face Forest.

Postecoglou is likely to make wholesale changes this evening. The likes of Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven and Solanke could all potentially be rotated out of the lineup.

Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview and team news

Form

Tottenham: LWDLW

Spurs showed character to prevail in Frankfurt’s hostile atmosphere during midweek. After the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie ended 1-1, the Lilywhites earned a 1-0 victory on Thursday to knock out the German outfit.

Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt awaits them in the next stage, with the winner of that tie making the final in Bilbao. Similarly to Manchester United, Tottenham are solely focused on their European exploits following a dire league campaign.

Wolves’ win over United on Sunday resulted in Ange Postecoglou’s side dropping to 16th position in the Premier League. However, three points tonight would see them climb into 13th place and secure consecutive home league wins for the first time since early November.

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Nottingham Forest: WDWLL

Forest are feeling the pressure in the race for Champions League football and have dropped out of the top five, at least temporarily.

A 2-1 away defeat at fellow contenders Aston Villa preceded a damning last-minute home loss to Everton last weekend. Abdoulaye Doucoure dented Forest’s hopes of European qualification by sweeping home a 94th minute winner at the City Ground.

It was only the third time in this Premier League season that the Tricky Trees have suffered defeat at home. However, their destiny is still firmly in their own hands. A win in the capital this evening would result in them reclaiming third spot with five games to go.

Read – Premier League Team of the Weekend as Aston Villa dominate

Last Meeting: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham, Premier League, 26th December 2024

Nottingham Forest narrowly defeated Tottenham on Boxing Day to record their fourth consecutive league win. Both sides quickly imposed themselves on proceedings and were exchanging blows at the City Ground.

Brennan Johnson almost came back to haunt his former side early on, but Matz Sels got down smartly to save the low drive.

Just shy of the half hour mark, Elanga calmly slotted in the winner in front of the travelling support.

Expansive play from the hosts saw Morgan Gibbs-White carry the ball over 40 yards before releasing the Swede. The inch-perfect pass allowed Elanga to apply a precise first-time finish over Fraser Forster.

Johnson continued to pose the biggest threat to Sels’ goal but the Belgian stopper was equal to another firm effort from the 23-year-old.

After the break, Gibbs-White had an opportunity to double the deficit. Forster’s interception from Elanga’s cross landed at the feet of the technician only for the 6’7 stopper to smother the subsequent attempt.

Sels was then Johnson’s nemesis once again to preserve the Forest clean sheet. Spurs’ number 22’s beautiful turn inside the box included a nutmeg on Murillo, who was bailed out by the feet of his goalkeeper.

The visitors couldn’t find a way past the home resistance and one individual let the frustration cloud his judgement. Former Forest full-back Djed Spence was shown his second yellow card of the afternoon in the fourth minute of stoppage-time. Spence prevented Jota Silva from advancing down the right and left referee Craig Pawson with little choice.

That was the last highlight of the festive contest with the final whistle signalling yet another triumph for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be at 20:00 BST on Monday, 21st April 2025.

Who is the referee?

Peter Bankes will be the match official. Marc Perry and Nick Greenhalgh will assist him while Tony Harrington will be the fourth official. John Brooks is on VAR duty while Dan Robathan will assist him.