Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth Prediction: Elanga to repeat feat against Cherries

After gaining promotion from the Championship together in 2022, Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth both enter their third successive season in the Premier League this weekend, facing off at the City Ground on Saturday (15:00).

Scroll on for my Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth prediction, as well as all the latest team news and match odds ahead of this opening-round fixture.

Football Odds

Team News

By recent standards, it's been a relatively quiet window for Forest, who have made just six summer signings so far. Nikola Milenkovic is the standout name after seven seasons in Serie A with Fiorentina, and the Serbian centre-back looks set to make his competitive debut from the start on Saturday.

Fellow new arrivals Elliott Anderson and Jota Silva may have to bide their time, with a place on the bench for both likely this weekend, while it remains to be seen if Carlos Miguel gets the nod ahead of Matz Sels in between the sticks.

There are decisions for Nuno Espirito Santo to make further forwards with Taiwo Awoniyi back from injury; however, the Nigerian striker hasn't started a game - competitive or otherwise - since February 28, and looks set for a substitute role on Saturday with last season's top scorer Chris Wood handed a starting berth.

Bournemouth are still reeling from the loss of star striker Dominic Solanke, who was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur last week after netting 19 Premier League goals last season. The Cherries appear to have identified a replacement for the 26-year-old, FC Porto centre-forward Evanilson, but it's unlikely the Brazilian will be registered in time to face the Tricky Trees.

With Enes Unal failing to feature in pre-season, Antoine Semenyo appears most likely to lead the line for Bournemouth this weekend, and he is to be supported by Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra.

Dean Huijsen will hope to earn a start alongside Ilya Zabarnyi after his summer switch from Juventus, meaning Marcos Senesi may have to settle for a place on the bench, and the Argentine could be joined there by Mexican right-back Julian Araujo, who only joined the Cherries from Barcelona earlier this week.

Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

The hosts are 6/4 to start their season with all three points, giving them an implied win probability of 40%, while the visitors can be backed at 15/8, or a 34.8% chance.

The draw is available at 12/5, both teams to score at 4/7, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/11.

Forest pair Awoniyi and Wood (both 6/4) head the anytime scorers list, with Semenyo and summer signing Daniel Jebbison (both 11/5) considered most likely to find the net for the Cherries.

Double Chance & Both Teams To Score - Nottingham Forest or Draw & Yes @ 6/5

This is a tricky fixture to call. Bournemouth finished five places and 16 points ahead of Forest last season but have since lost the services of Solanke, who was such an influential figure in attack.

Cherries head coach Andoni Iraola is one of the most impressive managers in the division and the club appear to have sourced a ready-made replacement in Evanilson, but it may take some time to adjust without Solanke, and with Evanlison and Unal unlikely to feature this weekend, the south coast side look light in attack.

I still think they can get on the scoresheet with Semenyo, Kluivert and Sinisterra all capable of causing problems to a Forest defence that shipped 67 Premier League goals last term, the same number the Cherries conceded. Bournemouth also won the corresponding fixture 3-2 last December, although Willy Boly's first-half dismissal played a big part in that success.

The teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium in February and that appears a more likely scoreline on Saturday, though I wouldn't rule out a home win to kickstart Forest's campaign, which is why the insurance of double chance takes my fancy, alongside both sides finding the net.

Anthony Elanga Anytime Scorer @ 16/5

Elanga isn't a guaranteed starter on Saturday but he did begin both games against Bournemouth last season and scored in the 3-2 defeat at the City Ground, one of five Premier League strikes in his debut Forest campaign.

I considered fellow winger Hudson-Odoi, who ended last season in terrific form, bagging a brace against Sheffield United and one against old side Chelsea in May to take his tally to eight goals in the league. The 23-year-old struck once in pre-season, as did Elanga, but the latter's arrived more recently as he came off the bench to net against Olympiakos last Saturday.

I think that strike will give the Sweden international a boost heading into this contest, and he could inflict more pain on the Cherries.

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