A thrilling Premier League clash awaits us at the City Ground this Saturday at lunchtime as Nottingham Forest host Manchester City. With both teams vying for a spot in the top four, this match significantly impacts their Champions League aspirations.
Match Preview: Key Talking Points
Nottingham Forest’s Unexpected Rise
- Last season, Forest was fighting relegation; this season, they are in contention for a top-four finish.
- They have also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals after a penalty shootout victory over Ipswich Town.
Forest’s Recent Struggles
- The team has earned only one point from their last three league matches.
- They suffered back-to-back losses against Fulham (2-1) and Newcastle (4-3) before a 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
- Despite these setbacks, they remain in third place, with only six points separating them from tenth place.
Manchester City’s Momentum
- City recently secured a 1-0 win over Tottenham in the Premier League.
- They came from behind to defeat Plymouth 3-1 in the FA Cup.
- Only Liverpool and Arsenal have collected more league points than City in 2025.
City’s Struggles in the Top Four
- City has picked up just one point from seven matches when starting the day inside the top four.
- However, they remain the highest-scoring team in 2025, with 21 goals in the league, level with Liverpool.
Head-to-Head Record
- City has won the last three Premier League meetings against Forest with a combined score of 7-0.
- Forest last defeated City in a league match in December 1997.
Recent Form
Nottingham Forest
- Last six league matches: WLWLLD
- All competitions: WWLLDW
Manchester City
- Last six league matches: WWLWLW
- All competitions: LWLLWW
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest
- The only absentee is backup goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
- Matz Sels will continue as the starting goalkeeper.
- Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams are likely to start in defense.
- Elliot Anderson is expected to return to midfield.
- Chris Wood, who has been involved in 11 goals in his last nine league appearances, will lead the attack.
Predicted Starting XI:
Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Danilo, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Manchester City
- Nathan Ake, Rodri, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Oscar Bobb are all ruled out due to injuries.
- Ederson, Ruben Dias, and Mateo Kovacic are set to return to the starting lineup.
- Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland are expected to start in attack.
Predicted Starting XI:
Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Kovacic; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland
Match Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City
Manchester City will be refreshed after a week of rest and training, which could give them the edge in this contest. Guardiola will have a near-full-strength attack at his disposal, and with Haaland leading the line, City are likely to find a way past Forest’s strong defensive unit.
However, Nottingham Forest have shown that they can compete with the top teams, especially at home. If they defend resolutely and capitalize on counterattacking opportunities, they could cause problems for City’s backline.
Expect a closely fought match, but Manchester City’s quality should see them edge past Forest in a narrow victory.
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