The international break is finally over, and Blues in west London will hope Chelsea have retained that winning feeling when Estevao Willian struck late to secure all three points against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.
It was a crucial Premier League win for Enzo Maresca's men, who haven't quite got going this term and had lost two on the bounce before sinking the champions.
Now, Chelsea will hope to use that momentum as they tackle Ange Postecoglou's Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.
estevao-chelsea
Chelsea did it without the all-consuming Cole Palmer, who has endured an injury-disrupted start to the 2025/26 campaign.
And they are going to have to do it again this weekend and beyond, with the Italian coach revealing some deflating news concerning the England star's fitness.
The latest on Cole Palmer's fitness
It was not the news Chelsea fans would have wanted or expected when Maresca sat down for his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.
Palmer's niggling groin injury has proved worse than Maresca feared, and he faces a further six weeks on the sidelines.
The 23-year-old has only featured four times across all competitions this season, scoring twice, and this comes as a significant blow as Stamford Bridge gears up for the gruelling winter period.
Talismanic and prolific, Palmer is irreplaceable, but Chelsea will have to try, and are sure to take solace in their recent performance against Liverpool.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer
Matters are worsened, however, by Enzo Fernandez's expected absence, the Argentine midfielder having withdrawn from international duty due to 'inflammation of the knee'. Though he is optimistic about making the matchday squad, Maresca has another option in Facundo Buonanotte, who he could unleash against the Tricky Trees.
Maresca must unleash Facundo Buonanotte
Chelsea added Buonanotte's signature for a £2m loan fee this summer, pinching the Brighton playmaker after his loan spell with Leicester City last year.
facundo-buonanotte-leicester-leeds
The Foxes got relegated from the Premier League, but the 20-year-old was one of the brighter sparks across the early stage of the campaign, scoring four times and assisting twice too before December.
Intelligent, direct and capable of manipulating tight spaces, he could add the dimension Chelsea need, especially with Moises Caicedo in such redoubtable form at the heart of the midfield.
Hailed for his "immense potential" and for having a "left foot made of gold" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Buonanotte feels like a ready-made replacement for Palmer, slotting into a similar positional berth.
Moreover, he ranked among the top 2% of peers across the 2024/25 Premier League season for tackles, the top 1% for blocks and the top 13% for interceptions per 90 last season, data courtesy of FBref, and so could perform with the combativeness of Fernandez too, should he be considered unfit to start.
Buonanotte in the Prem for LCFC
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Shots (on target)*
Pass completion
Big chances created
Dribbles*
Recoveries*
Tackles*
Duels won*
Data via Sofascore
Creative and energetic on the ball, Buonanotte might not be the finished product, but he is brimming with potential and could fit the mould Palmer has vacated as he works toward recovery in the infirmary.
Forest have been out of sorts this season, but Chelsea cannot afford a slip-up, and must maintain their fluency as they look to string back-to-back wins together in the Premier League.