Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth at the City Ground in their opening match of 2024-25 Premier League season.
Forest will look to avoid another relegation battle after only mathematically staying up on the final day of last season.
Bournemouth meanwhile will be focused on building upon their promising 12th-placed finish of last season.
Team News
Forest have a full squad available for selection with no injury issues following their final pre-season friendly win over Olympiacos.
Marko Stamenic, Elliott Anderson, Carlos Miguel, Nikola Milenkovic and Jota Silva could be in contention for their club debuts.
Bournemouth could hand debuts to Alex Paulsen, Daniel Jebbison, Dean Huijsen and Julian Araujo.
Neto (back) and Marcos Senesi (head) face late fitness tests but Tyler Adams (back), David Brooks (shoulder) and Enes Unal (foot) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Forest host Bournemouth at City Ground on Saturday 17 August at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Forest are winless against Bournemouth in the Premier League (D2, L2).
- Bournemouth won each of their two Premier League visits to Forest by a 3-2 result (W2).
- Ex Bournemouth striker, Dominic Solanke scored four goals across the Cherries’ last two visits to Forest.
- Seven of Forest’s 10 goals in pre-season were scored after half-time.
- Luis Sinisterra scored in Bournemouth’s last two pre-season friendlies (W2).
Prediction
With no clean sheets in their last 14 competitive matches, Forest this season need to sort out their defence if they want to avoid another relegation scrap because they were frankly lucky to not be relegated at end of last season.
Bournemouth meanwhile face a mega challenge in replacing Solanke’s goals and although Evanilson is on his way, he will need time so others need to step up and deliver the goals in the short term if want another solid season.
I am therefore not anticipating a cracking game unlike their last two meetings at the City Ground, and a draw might well be the best outcome to call here.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth
Result: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth
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