Nottingham Forest vs Man City: Team News, H2H, Predicted lineup and Match Preview

Nottingham Forest will host Manchester City at The City Ground on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 15:30 UTC for Round 35 of the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest

Despite Nottingham Forest facing a Manchester City team that hasn't been defeated in 30 matches across all competitions, Forest's recent form tells a different story, with just one win in their last 10 games. Their solitary victory against Fulham contrasts sharply with their subsequent poor performance, managing only one point from encounters with Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Everton. After a 2-0 loss to Everton, Forest raised eyebrows by questioning the VAR official's integrity via a social media post, following three denied penalty appeals. Additionally, they await the verdict on their appeal against a four-point penalty for breaching Premier League Profit and Sustainability regulations, expected imminently. Nuno Espirito Santo's side aims to prolong their unbeaten streak at the City Ground to four games, having lost only seven of 17 such fixtures on home turf this season.

Manchester City Form

Despite holding the second position in the table, there's a prevailing assumption that Manchester City will employ all necessary means to secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title. Under Pep Guardiola's guidance, the team has maintained an impressive 17-match unbeaten streak in the top flight since December, which was further extended to 18 during their recent victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. City's dominance was evident as they surged to a 3-0 lead within 34 minutes and continued to score four goals for the fourth consecutive league fixture. With Liverpool's loss to Everton earlier in the week, City now enjoys a two-point lead over their Merseyside rivals with a game in hand, though their primary focus remains on catching up to league leaders Arsenal. Guardiola will emphasize to his squad the importance of concentrating solely on their own performance, despite the impending North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, he'll caution against complacency by recalling last season's corresponding fixture, where Nottingham Forest held City to a 1-1 draw.

Head to Head

Since 1899, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City have clashed an impressive 103 times. Notably, Manchester City has emerged victorious in 42 of these encounters, while Nottingham Forest has claimed victory on 33 occasions. Additionally, 28 matches have resulted in draws. Despite the seemingly even distribution of wins between the two teams, in recent years since 2022, Manchester City has dominated, winning twice and drawing once in their matchups. The teams also met earlier this season, with Manchester City securing a 2-0 victory.

Recent outcomes:

Team News

Forest may continue to miss Taiwo Awoniyi due to a thigh issue, with his best-case scenario being a spot on the bench. Willy Boly's absence could see Anthony Elanga stepping in for Giovanni Reyna in the starting eleven, as suggested by Nuno. Moussa Niakhate, who recently returned after a two-month absence, will aim to maintain his place in the heart of the defense.

Erling Haaland has sat out the past two matches due to a minor muscle problem, casting doubt on his participation in the upcoming Man City game. With the opportunity to rest key players in their recent match against Brighton, Guardiola might consider adjusting his lineup, especially with his top scorer's fitness in question. Potential returns to the starting lineup could include John Stones, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and Jeremy Doku, either in central defense or on the left flank.

Predicted Lineup

Nottingham Forest possible lineup:

Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Dominguez, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Manchester City possible lineup:

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri; Silva, De Bruyne, Kovacic, Foden; Alvarez

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Prediction:

The upcoming match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City is shaping up to potentially be one of those rare Premier League fixtures where the outcome seems almost certain even before the game begins. Manchester City, eager to secure points in their pursuit of defending their Premier League title, view an injury-hit Nottingham Forest as a vulnerable opponent to exploit. While Forest may attempt to adopt a defensive approach and resist City's attacks, it appears improbable that they will emerge from the contest without suffering a defeat.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-3 Manchester City