The Champions League battle rages on. There are five spots available and seven teams who are in fierce race to take those spots. In reality, we are talking about Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa who are battling for three places, as both Liverpool and Arsenal have secured their European football already. After Chelsea and Aston Villa‘s wins over the weekend, the pressure was all on Nottingham Forest to record another three points and equalize with Chelsea and Newcastle on points. But, the Nuno Espirito Santo‘s team are in deep crisis in the worst possible time. Forest began April in third and with a 10-point cushion between themselves and sixth. Now, after three defeats in their last four league games, they have dropped out of the Champions League qualification spots, sitting three points adrift of the top five.Nottingham Forest stay sixth in the Premier League after getting a draw against Crystal Palace 🔴📉 pic.twitter.com/3bnvosSGlz— OneFootball (@OneFootball) May 5, 2025 And tonight, they failed to secure a win, as Crystal Palace put up a fight even thou they are not focused on the league table, but rather FA Cup final with Manchester City. Brazilian defender Murillo got the equalizer four minutes after Eze‘s successful penalty kick and Espirito Santo will have to be happy with a 1-1 draw. As soon as next week, Forst coach will have the chance, at the City Ground, to give the club’s fans — those who remember the golden days under Brian Clough — something they couldn’t have imagined not long ago – Forest in Europe. And the opponent is perfect: already-relegated Leicester. With a win in the next round, Nottingham Forest would mathematically secure European football, guaranteeing at least a spot in the Conference League, while aiming even higher. The first task, however, is to shake off stubborn Bournemouth — to seize three points and eliminate all their chances.One thing is certain: they’ll need to play better than they did today. Chris Wood and Anthony Elanga tested Dean Henderson, and Forest’s center-forward even appealed for a penalty in the first half after being pulled from behind. It resembled the Europa League semi-final incident where Dani Vivian pulled Rasmus Hojlund, but in England, that is not gonna be called. No penalty was awarded — let alone a red card. But Crystal Palace did get one in the second half. Tyrick Mitchell charged into the visitors’ six-yard box, was fouled, and after consulting VAR, referee Andrew Madley pointed to the spot. Eberechi Eze took the penalty with a stutter-step run-up. Matz Sels read him well but still came up short. The home side’s joy was short-lived, though, as four minutes later, Brazilian center-back Murillo equalized — just getting a foot to the ball and redirecting its course. Forest held on, with chances on both sides as stoppage time approached — and during it. Eze switched the ball from left to right and launched a rocket — off the crossbar! He followed up with another dangerous shot; Eddie Nketiah deflected it like Murillo had earlier, but was offside. Will Hughes also threatened, sending a shot over the bar.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 35Friday Man. City – Wolverhampton 1-0 (1-0)/De Bruyne 35/Saturday Aston Villa – Fulham 1-0 (1-0)/Tielemans 12/Everton – Ipswich 2-2 (2-1)/Beto 26, McNeil 35 – Enciso 41, Hirst 79/Leicester – Southampton 2-0 (2-0)/Vardy 17, Ayew 44/Arsenal – Bournemouth 1-2 (1-0)/Rice 34 – Huijsen 67, Evanilson 75/Sunday Brentford – Manchester United 4-3 (2-1)/Shaw 27 og, Schade 33, 70, Wissa 74 – Mount 14, Garnacho 82, Diallo 90+5/Brighton – Newcastle 1-1 (1-0)/Minteh 28 – Isak (p) 89/West Ham – Tottenham 1-1 (1-1)/Bowen 28 – Odobert 15/Chelsea – Liverpool 3-1 (1-0)/Fernandez 3, Quansah 56(og), Palmer (p) 96 – Van Dijk 85/MondayCrystal Palace – Nottingham Forest 1-1 (0-0)/Eze (p) 60 – Murillo 64/
