Nottingham Forest welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the City Ground on Sunday 14 December 2025 (2:00pm GMT) in a key Premier League clash for both ends of the table. Forest are battling to keep distance from the relegation zone, while Spurs are chasing the European places and trying to build momentum after improved recent performances.
Match Overview
This fixture at the historic City Ground in Nottingham – Forest’s home since 1898 – brings together two clubs with very different priorities but equally high pressure. Forest come into the game under scrutiny after a heavy defeat at Everton, while Tottenham travel north looking to continue their upturn in form and stabilise their league position.
Ahead of kick-off, Forest sit in the lower reaches of the table, around 17th place, with Spurs hovering in mid-table around 11th. That makes this a “six-pointer” of sorts: Forest need home wins to pull clear of danger, and Spurs cannot afford to drop points if they want to stay in touch with the top eight.
Current Form & Table Situation
Nottingham Forest
Forest’s season has been a roller-coaster. Impressive spells – including big wins against strong opposition last campaign – have been offset by inconsistencies and defensive lapses. A recent 3–0 defeat away to Everton highlighted their vulnerability against sides who press aggressively and transition quickly, exposing gaps between midfield and defence.
At home, however, Forest are generally more competitive. The City Ground crowd can generate a fierce atmosphere, and Forest often play with greater intensity on their own pitch, pressing higher and committing more bodies forward. The big question is whether they can convert that energy into goals without leaving themselves exposed to Tottenham’s pace on the break.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham arrive in Nottingham on the back of encouraging results. A solid league win over Brentford and a confident Champions League victory against Slavia Prague have eased some of the pressure on the manager and boosted morale in the dressing room.
Spurs’ attacking play has looked sharper recently, with more cohesion in possession and better use of the half-spaces behind the opposition midfield. Defensively they can still be vulnerable, especially when full-backs push high, but their pressing and recovery runs have improved compared to the early weeks of the season.
Head-to-Head Snapshot
Recent meetings between the clubs have been surprisingly balanced, with Forest proving they can trouble Spurs:
- 21 Apr 2025 – Tottenham 1–2 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- 26 Dec 2024 – Nottingham Forest 1–0 Tottenham (Premier League)
- 7 Apr 2024 – Tottenham 3–1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- 15 Dec 2023 – Nottingham Forest 0–2 Tottenham (Premier League)
- 11 Mar 2023 – Tottenham 3–1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Over those five recent league meetings, Spurs have three wins and Forest have two, but crucially Forest have won the last two clashes, including a Boxing Day victory at the City Ground and an impressive away win in North London. That recent record should give the hosts confidence that they can unsettle Tottenham again.
Tactical Match-Up
Forest: Intensity and Direct Threat
Forest are likely to set up with a compact defensive block and look to spring forward quickly when possession is won. The key themes:
- Vertical transitions: Quick balls into the channels to stretch Tottenham’s back line.
- Wide overloads: Using the wings to exploit any space left by advanced Spurs full-backs.
- Set-pieces: Forest are dangerous from corners and free-kicks, and Spurs have shown vulnerability on defensive set plays at times.
Tottenham: Possession & Structured Press
Spurs will expect to dominate the ball for long periods and try to pin Forest back:
- High press: Forcing turnovers near the Forest box and preventing easy out-balls.
- Rotations between midfield and forwards: Creating overloads between the lines and pulling Forest’s defensive shape out of position.
- Switches of play: Rapid diagonal balls to exploit space on the opposite flank when Forest shift across too aggressively.
The tactical battle may be decided by how well Forest can survive long spells without the ball and how efficiently Spurs convert territory into clear chances.
Key Players to Watch
Nottingham Forest
- Forest’s centre-forward: Will need to hold up play, bring others into the game and make the most of limited chances on the counter.
- Wide attackers: Their pace and one-v-one ability will be vital in transitions and set-pieces.
- Defensive leader: The organiser at the back must keep the line compact and deal with Spurs’ movement in the box.
Tottenham Hotspur
- Creative midfielder / playmaker: Responsible for breaking lines with passes into the box and controlling the tempo.
- Wide forwards: Expected to attack Forest’s full-backs, cut inside and either shoot or create.
- Holding midfielder: Key to stopping Forest’s counters and recycling possession quickly after turnovers.
Match Facts
- Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Competition: Premier League 2025/26
- Date: Sunday 14 December 2025
- Kick-off: 2:00pm GMT (14:00 UTC)
- Venue: The City Ground, Nottingham
- Forest’s current approximate position: 17th
- Tottenham’s current approximate position: 11th
Score Prediction
Forest’s strong recent record against Spurs, especially at the City Ground, suggests this will not be straightforward for the visitors. However, Tottenham’s recent improvement and extra attacking quality give them a slight edge.
Predicted result: Nottingham Forest 1–2 Tottenham Hotspur
A narrow away win feels the most likely outcome, but if Forest can strike first and harness the home crowd, another upset is certainly possible.