Run Forest Run: Nottingham Forest’s Premier League 24/25 Odds
Another Miracle?
The 2024-25 English Premier League season feels like something out of a parallel universe. By February, Man City are outside the Champions League spots, Pep Guardiola is tearing his hair out (LOL), and a strikingly similar-looking Nuno Espírito Santo has led Nottingham Forest into the top three. Let’s break down the underdog’s success story in detail—and, of course, highlight the best betting opportunities.
Fans of historical parallels are already shouting about a Cinderella repeat, reminiscent of Leicester’s 2015-16 triumph. Don’t lose your mind. Back then, the Foxes’ rise coincided with the crisis among the traditional powerhouses. Today’s Liverpool and Arsenal are relentless machines.
Nottingham Forest Betting Odds
But isn’t it incredible that we’re seriously discussing Nottingham Forest in next year’s Champions League? Their title odds have dropped fivefold since the start of the season but remain high. And do you know what the odds were for Forest to finish in the top six on Betfred back in August 2024? A staggering 50/1. Ten pounds could have turned into £500. Now, those odds are nowhere near as generous—just
3/10
A top-four finish, however, is a far more intriguing market to watch.
Nottingham Forest Top Finish Odds
Nottingham Forest’s main rival now appears to be Manchester City, whose minimum goal for the season is securing a Champions League spot. Interestingly, the two sides could still meet head-to-head in the FA Cup. However, bookmakers remain skeptical about Nottingham’s chances in the tournament, given that both Manchester clubs, Newcastle, and Aston Villa are still to challenge them in this cup.
Nottingham Forest Analysis
Nuno Espírito Santo took charge of Nottingham Forest last season when they were on the brink of relegation. He managed to keep them in the Premier League, though just barely—they finished with 32 points, the lowest total ever recorded to stay up in the competition.
After a few chaotic seasons, particularly in the transfer market, stability has returned to the City Ground. The club secured profitable deals by selling Moussa Niakhate and Orel Mangala to Lyon, while an unusual arrangement involving Odysseas Vlachodimos' £20m transfer to Newcastle—designed to help both clubs comply with FFP—brought in exciting young midfielder Elliot Anderson for £38m.
Transfers In:
Elliot Anderson – Newcastle (£38m)
Nikola Milenković – Fiorentina (£12m)
Jota Silva – Vitoria (£6m)
Marko Stamenić – Red Star (£5m)
Carlos Miguel – Corinthians (£3m)
Eric da Silva Moreira – St Pauli (£1m)
They also retained key players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood, and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Santo has implemented a cautious, defense-first approach. The team is built around a solid backline and two defensive midfielders. Nottingham often sits deep, luring opponents forward before attempting to intercept and launch quick counterattacks down the flanks.
Chris Wood plays a particularly crucial role, not only as a goalscorer but also in pulling defenders out of position. He currently sits joint-third in the Premier League scoring charts with 17 goals and is the fourth favorite for the Golden Boot.
Of course, overtaking Mohamed Salah this season seems like science fiction. While Wood competes with him on goals, Anthony Elanga has been excelling in assists—he ranks third in the Premier League with eight assists, though bookmakers don’t seem convinced.
Overall, Nottingham Forest’s attack is clearly underrated. Perhaps that’s their secret? They rank among the league’s top ten in both goals scored and shots on target. But their real strength remains their defense.
Nottingham Forest 2024-25 Season Stats
Metric |
Result (League Rank) |
Goals Scored |
40 (9th) |
Goals Conceded |
27 (3rd fewest) |
Shots on Target |
114 (9th) |
Saves |
75 (9th) |
Matz Sels has been a standout performer in goal this season. Leading the league in clean sheets (10), he has effectively "saved" Nottingham six goals. Despite an xGA of 25.12 from open play, the team has only conceded 21, while from corners, they've let in just three goals against an xGA of 5.60. Realistically, Sels is Forest’s top contender for an individual award this season—and the bookmakers’ favorite.
Nottingham Forest’s Prospects
It’s now clear that current owner, Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, is committed to the club long-term. Plans are already in place to expand the City Ground’s capacity to 40,000 seats. Alongside Forest, Marinakis owns Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Ave, creating a multi-club model similar to City Football Group.
Marinakis has made his ambitions clear: securing Champions League qualification. It has been nearly 50 years since Nottingham Forest’s golden era, when they won back-to-back European Cups. Now is the perfect moment to reclaim their place among the elite. The last two seasons have shown that surprise teams can break into the top four—Aston Villa did it last year, and Newcastle the year before. And, of course, we must not forget the stories of Leicester and Wolverhampton.
Leicester
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