NOTTINGHAM FOREST’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOPES ASSESSED AS POINTS TARGET OUTLINED
Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Manchester City last weekend was a significant boost to their Champions League hopes. With 10 games remaining in the Premier League season, the Reds are well-placed to secure a top-four finish and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
However, Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is refusing to get ahead of himself, preferring instead to focus on one game at a time. “We are not thinking about the Champions League,” Nuno said. “We are thinking about the next game, and that’s it.”
Despite Nuno’s caution, the stats suggest that Forest are well on track to secure a Champions League spot. According to Opta, the Reds have a 57.34% chance of finishing in the top four.
So, how many points do Forest need to secure a Champions League spot? Based on the last five Premier League seasons, the average points total required to finish fourth is 68.6. However, with the Premier League likely to have five representatives in the Champions League this season, a total of 66 points may be enough to secure a spot.
With 51 points already on the board, Forest would need 15 points from their remaining 10 games to reach the 66-point mark. To reach the 69-point mark, which would all but guarantee a top-four finish, Forest would need 18 points from their remaining games.
Forest’s run-in is relatively kind, with games against Ipswich Town, Everton, and Leicester City providing opportunities for the Reds to pick up points. However, tougher tests against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea will also provide a stern challenge for Nuno’s side.
Ultimately, Forest’s Champions League hopes will depend on their ability to maintain their current form and pick up points consistently over the remaining 10 games of the season. With Nuno at the helm and a talented squad at his disposal, the Reds will be confident of securing a top-four finish and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Here is Forest’s remaining Premier League fixture list:
Ipswich Town (A) – Saturday, March 15
Manchester United (H) – Tuesday, April 1
Aston Villa (A) – Saturday, April 5
Everton (H) – Saturday, April 12
Tottenham Hotspur (A) – Monday, April 21
Brentford (H) – Saturday, April 26
Crystal Palace (A) – Saturday, May 3
Leicester City (H) – Saturday, May 10
West Ham United (A) – Sunday, May 18
Chelsea (H) – Sunday, May 25
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