Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest: prediction, head-to-head, and probable line-ups – 22 March 2026
One of the key clashes in the battle for Premier League survival takes place this Sunday in London at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Tottenham will host Nottingham Forest. The teams are neck and neck near the bottom of the table, making the stakes in this fixture almost as high as they can get for both sides. Here’s my pick for the outcome of this pivotal contest.
- See also: Newcastle United vs Sunderland: prediction, head-to-head, and probable line-ups – 22 March 2026
Match preview
Tottenham approach this fixture in a rather unusual emotional state: midweek, the team finally claimed their first win under Igor Tudor, edging out Atletico 3-2. However, that triumph brought no tournament benefit, as the Londoners were still knocked out of the Champions League after a disastrous first leg. Earlier, Spurs even managed to snatch a draw against Liverpool in the league, so for the first time in a long while, there are signs of life – not just in terms of results, but also in performance. The question now is whether they can transfer this spark into the Premier League.
The situation in the league remains precarious for the hosts, leaving no room for complacency. Tottenham haven’t won a Premier League match since the start of the calendar year and are in the midst of a 12-game winless streak. Their home form has been the worst in the league this season – just 10 points from 15 matches. Still, there’s good news for Tudor: the injury list is finally shrinking. Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, and several other key players are back, and Xavi Simons, after his brace against Atletico, has surely earned a starting spot and could be one of the main attacking threats.
Nottingham Forest, in contrast, managed to achieve a tournament breakthrough in midweek by reaching the Europa League quarterfinals after overcoming Midtjylland. Vítor Pereira’s side managed to bounce back from the first leg and eventually saw off their opponents – though luck played a part, with the penalty shootout clearly swinging in the English side’s favor. Now, Forest must quickly switch their focus back to the league, where their situation remains extremely fragile.
Forest’s Premier League crisis continues to drag on: they haven’t won in seven matches, and a goalless draw with Fulham last time out left them just above the relegation zone on goal difference. Another major issue is their lack of attacking output: Forest have failed to score in 14 matches this season, with only Wolves faring worse. However, the visitors do have an important psychological advantage: back in December, they convincingly beat Tottenham 3-0, and Spurs have now lost their last three Premier League encounters with Forest.
Probable line-ups
- Tottenham: Vicario — Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence — Sarr, Gray — Tel, Simons, Richarlison — Kolo Muani
- Nottingham Forest: Sels — Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams — Anderson, Sangaré — McAtee, Gibbs-White, Domínguez — Jesus
Match facts and head-to-head
- Tottenham have not won a single Premier League match in 2026 and are on a 12-game winless run in the competition.
- Nottingham Forest are winless in their last seven Premier League fixtures and have failed to score in 14 games this season – a tally only Wolves have exceeded.
- Tottenham have lost their last three league meetings with Nottingham Forest, including a 0-3 defeat in December.
Prediction
This match looks set to be tense and extremely tricky to call, with both teams under massive pressure. Still, for the first time in a while, Tottenham seem to be moving in the right direction: they’re showing more attacking life, have key players back, and look emotionally recharged after the Atletico clash. Forest are certainly capable of putting up a fight, but considering their fatigue after European action and ongoing scoring woes, the edge goes to the home side – a Tottenham win looks the most solid bet, but it’s wise to play it safe with some insurance.
