Chelsea Win Seals The Top 4 and Returns Them To The Champions League
Levi Colwill’s strike seals Champions League return for Chelsea as Forest settle for Conference League berth
Levi Colwill’s crucial second-half goal secured Chelsea’s return to the Champions League next season with a tense 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The narrow win saw Enzo Maresca’s men clinch fourth place in the Premier League, while Forest, despite the loss, secured a spot in the UEFA Conference League, marking their first European qualification since 1996.
The defender’s decisive finish not only ended Forest’s hopes of rejoining Europe’s elite competition but also ensured Chelsea met the expectations placed on them at the start of the season.
With Champions League qualification now confirmed, Maresca admitted that the club’s summer transfer strategy hinged on which European competition they would be playing in.
This win, therefore, provides clarity and momentum ahead of Chelsea’s Conference League final clash against Real Betis in Poland on Wednesday.
Despite falling short of a top-five finish, Forest’s campaign remains a triumph.
Just three years after returning to the Premier League following a 23-year absence, the club’s seventh-place finish and qualification for Europe reflect a remarkable transformation.
They had spent a significant portion of the season in the top four but managed just two wins in their final eight games, losing steam as the campaign drew to a close.
Their four-game winless run at home was capped by a frustrating evening in which they failed to recover after conceding early in the second half.
The match itself, billed as a battle for Champions League qualification, delivered less drama than anticipated.
The first half offered few clear chances, with Pedro Neto and Chris Wood both firing over the bar. But Chelsea found the breakthrough five minutes after the restart when Colwill converted from close range.
Forest pushed for an equaliser, but their efforts lacked cutting edge, with Wood missing a golden opportunity in stoppage time.
Still, the mood at the final whistle was celebratory for Chelsea. Players and substitutes stormed the pitch, basking in the joy of securing top-tier European football.
With one more continental final ahead and a youthful, promising squad—averaging just over 24 years in age this season—Chelsea’s long-term vision finally appears to be bearing fruit.
Meanwhile, for Forest, the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League will fade against the backdrop of their broader progress.
Under Nuno Espírito Santo’s guidance, they have forged a tight-knit unit and shown glimpses of real potential.
The Conference League may lack the glamour of the Champions League, but it presents a genuine opportunity for silverware—and a platform to build on an inspiring season.
Chelsea Win Seals The Top 4 and Returns Them To The Champions League