AliousChampions League Setback: Nottingham Forest’s Top-Four Dream Takes Hit Amid Rivals’ Wins
Nottingham Forest’s ambitions of clinching a Champions League berth next season have suffered a significant blow following a series of unfavorable Premier League results.
Despite earning a point in a tense 2-2 draw against Leicester City at the City Ground, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side saw their top-four hopes take a hit when Facundo Buonanotte netted a late equalizer for the Foxes. The frustration of the moment spilled over, with owner Evangelos Marinakis visibly upset and exchanging words with Nuno post-match—a moment later described by Marinakis as one of “passion.”
With their own result leaving room for rivals to capitalize, Forest were keeping a close eye on Friday’s fixtures as Chelsea and Aston Villa, both chasing European qualification, took to the pitch. Unfortunately for Forest, both clubs earned crucial victories—Villa secured a 2-0 triumph over Tottenham, while Chelsea edged Manchester United 1-0. These wins pushed Chelsea into fourth place, overtaking both Villa and Manchester City in the standings.
Forest’s route to Champions League football has now become narrower. They must beat West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday to draw level with Man City on 65 points. However, even with a win, their fate is out of their hands. Pep Guardiola’s side faces Bournemouth on Tuesday, and should City secure a win, Forest’s chances diminish further.
To stay in contention, Forest would also need to defeat Chelsea on the final day while hoping Aston Villa lose to Manchester United. The slim margins and reliance on multiple outcomes mean the odds are now stacked against Nuno’s men, though mathematically, they remain in the race.
**Current Premier League Standings (Top Seven):**
1. **Liverpool** – 83 pts
2. **Arsenal** – 68 pts
3. **Newcastle United** – 66 pts (+23 GD)
4. **Chelsea** – 66 pts (+20 GD)
5. **Aston Villa** – 66 pts (+9 GD)
6. **Manchester City** – 65 pts (+24 GD)
7. **Nottingham Forest** – 62 pts (+12 GD)
**Key Fixtures Remaining:**
*Sunday, 18 May*
* West Ham vs Nottingham Forest (2:15pm)
* Arsenal vs Newcastle United (4:30pm)
*Tuesday, 20 May*
* Manchester City vs Bournemouth (8:00pm)
*Sunday, 25 May (All 4:00pm)*
* Fulham vs Manchester City
* Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea
* Manchester United vs Aston Villa
* Newcastle United vs Everton
With so much still at stake and only two games left, Forest must now rely not only on perfect performances but also on rivals slipping up if they are to achieve their Champions League dream.
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