Nottingham vs Crystal Palace Prediction & Betting Tips (1 February)

Nottingham Forest enter this clash with Crystal Palace amid a swirl of transfer noise and shifting momentum. Over the past two months, Forest have been heavily linked with a move for Jean‑Philippe Mateta, with multiple reports confirming a £35 million bid and ongoing negotiations between the clubs. Forest’s January period has also been shaped by injuries, particularly to Chris Wood, which has pushed the club to accelerate their search for attacking reinforcements. Sky Sports Their league form has been mixed, but they have shown resilience in several tight matches, keeping themselves within reach of mid‑table stability.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have faced their own turbulence, with Mateta expressing a desire to leave and the club weighing whether to accept Forest’s offer. Palace have already lost captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City this month, adding further strain to their defensive structure. Daily Mail Their recent fixtures have included a string of draws, reflecting a team that has struggled to convert chances despite maintaining competitive performances. The uncertainty surrounding their managerial situation and squad stability has also contributed to inconsistent results.

Looking at recent matches, Forest’s performances have included a blend of narrow wins and draws, highlighted by their ability to respond well after conceding early in several games. Palace, on the other hand, extended their unbeaten run with a 1‑1 draw against Forest earlier in the season, a match in which Ismaïla Sarr opened the scoring before Callum Hudson‑Odoi equalized. Coral Palace’s tendency to settle for draws has become a defining theme of their campaign, while Forest have shown slightly more edge in decisive moments, especially at home.

Taking all these elements into account—the transfer tension, recent form, and tactical patterns—this upcoming meeting feels primed for a decisive outcome. Forest’s home advantage, combined with Palace’s instability and potential loss of Mateta, tilts the balance toward the hosts. With that in mind, the predicted correct score for this Premier League encounter is 2‑0 in favor of Nottingham Forest.