Bournemouth close out their Premier League season on Sunday against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, with a coveted Champions League berth still mathematically within reach on a day when Andoni Iraola manages the Cherries for the final time.

What Bournemouth need

The goal difference gap makes it almost certain that Bournemouth cannot leapfrog Liverpool into fifth place. Sixth, however, is already close to secured — a draw against Forest would put them beyond Brighton & Hove Albion's reach, and even a defeat might be enough given that the Seagulls would need to beat Manchester United just to draw level.

The real prize, though, is that elusive sixth spot becoming a Champions League place rather than a Europa League one. For that to happen, Aston Villa must slip to fifth — which can only occur if Villa lose to Manchester City and Liverpool beat Brentford simultaneously. Should Villa finish fourth, Liverpool would claim the league's extra Champions League berth, pushing sixth and seventh into Europa League territory.

Aston Villa's midweek Europa League triumph already secured them a Champions League spot as winners of that competition, and they have also locked in one of the domestic qualifying places — meaning the arithmetic across the top six remains in flux right until the final whistle on Sunday.

Iraola's farewell and Forest's turbulent season

This match carries a bittersweet edge for Bournemouth supporters. Iraola departs after delivering the club's two highest-ever Premier League finishes in successive seasons, with former RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose confirmed as his replacement from the summer.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have endured a season of considerable upheaval. Vitor Pereira became the club's fourth manager of the campaign and steered them clear of the relegation zone after a prolonged battle against the drop. He also guided the side to the semi-finals of the Europa League — a remarkable achievement given the circumstances surrounding their domestic campaign.

Forest sit 15th and cannot fall any further down the table today, with a top-half finish against Crystal Palace the only upward movement possible. Bournemouth, by contrast, arrive with purpose and a European reward to fight for.

Match details

The fixture kicks off at 4:00pm BST on Sunday, 24 May 2026, at the City Ground in Nottingham. In the UK, the match is broadcast live on Sky Sports. Viewers in the United States can stream the match on Peacock Premium, while Australian fans can catch it through Stan Sport.