Tottenham v Nottingham Forest – Line-ups, stats and preview

Match preview for Tottenham v Nottingham Forest

Tottenham welcome a familiar face to North London this Easter Monday as they clash with Nottingham Forest, now under the leadership of ex-Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

While Ange Postecoglou’s side just about kept their European hopes alive with a tenacious Europa League quarter-final victory, Forest are fighting to bring Champions League football back to the City Ground for the first time in decades.

After securing a hard-fought 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Spurs’ European adventure continues – and so does Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.

The Australian manager, ever the optimist, joked after the win: “they would have to put up with him for a little while longer” – a quip made following Dominic Solanke’s crucial penalty that set the tone for a dogged defensive display in Germany.

Tottenham now prepare for a semi-final with Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt, but their domestic form remains dismal.

With 17 league defeats this season – their worst tally since 2003-04 – Spurs sit near the wrong end of the table.

Losses to teams such as Wolves, and poor results against top-half opposition (eight defeats in their last nine such games), highlight the scale of the challenge. Since their emphatic 4-0 win over Manchester City in November, only Leicester, Southampton, and Ipswich have earned fewer points.

Still, Spurs can cling to their recent home form, with a four-match unbeaten run across all competitions at their North London base.

to dare is to do… together 🤍@thfcflags pic.twitter.com/MflaKYOkyy

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 19, 2025

Team news for Tottenham v Nottingham Forest

Spurs’ victory in Frankfurt came at a price. James Maddison, who won the decisive penalty, was forced off after a heavy collision with goalkeeper Kaua Santos.

Postecoglou later revealed there was no serious injury, so the midfielder may still feature on Monday. However, captain Son Heung-min is set to remain out due to a persistent foot problem, while Radu Dragusin continues his recovery from an ACL tear.

With Son missing, Mathys Tel has stepped up. The teenage loanee from Bayern Munich has scored in his last two league outings and could make history as the first Spurs teenager to net in three consecutive Premier League matches.

Nuno Espirito Santo offered little clarity on his team selection, stating only that Ola Aina (calf) and Taiwo Awoniyi (thigh) would be assessed “day-by-day.” Despite a poor showing against Everton, the Forest boss is expected to stick with most of his starting XI, with Anthony Elanga likely to replace Jota Silva.

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