Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea predicted to see if the Blues can earn Champions League football

Chelsea can secure their place in next season's Champions League later today when they face Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season.

With just one game to go, the race for the Premier League top five is wide open, with five teams looking to secure one of the three remaining places in the Champions League, including both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. After a tough 2-0 loss to Newcastle United, the Blues bounced back with a 1-0 win over Manchester United, but now, Enzo Maresca's side must go to Nottingham Forest, with the Reds also in contention for a top-five finish.

A win for Chelsea would confirm a top-five finish, while a draw would also be enough, as long as one of Newcastle or Aston Villa fails to win. If the Blues lose, though, then Forest would leapfrog them into the top five, and Maresca's side will not be playing in the Champions League next season. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw, with Noni Madueke getting on the scoresheet for Chelsea.

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So, can the Blues confirm their spot in the Champions League for next season? Let's take a look...

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea score predicted

To complete this simulation, we used EA FC 25 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.

We predict that the hosts could set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

We predict that the Blues could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their starting XI as follows: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; George.

Chelsea started brightly at the City Ground, and they almost took the lead six minutes in when Tyrique George caught out Matz Sels with an early strike from the left flank, but his curling effort rattled the far post. The Englishman was looking dangerous, but he was forced off 39 minutes in with a knock, with Pedro Neto being sent up front instead.

Maresca's side had dominated the first half, but as they have done so often this season, Forest took the lead with one of their first shots of the game. Chelsea failed to clear the ball after Robert Sanchez parried Nikola Milenkovic's header back into a dangerous position, and Ibrahim Sangare was able to poke the ball home from a few yards out.

Chelsea had it all to do in the second half, but a moment of magic allowed them to level the score just before the hour mark.

Cole Palmer picked up the ball 40 yards from goal before driving towards the Forest back line, and his drilled pass into the feet of Neto was wonderfully flicked back into the path of Palmer, allowing the Englishman to break into the box. After one touch out of his feet, Palmer blasted his shot into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Madueke and Enzo Fernandez both had good chances to put Chelsea ahead, though the Blues' best opportunity fell to Trevoh Chalobah from a corner, but the defender got underneath the ball as his header looped over the crossbar. Neither side was able to find a winner with both desperately needing one, and the points were shared on the final day of the season.

EA FC 25 pre dicted final score: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea drawing means they would have to rely on results elsewhere going their way, but in the simulation, Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Manchester United, meaning that the Blues finished fifth in the table to secure Champions League football for the following season. Phew!

What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments!