Still aiming to salvage a sorry season with a second FA Cup crown in three years, Manchester City return to Wembley for a tantalising semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
For City, another trip to the showpiece would extend their dominance, while Forest dream of ending a 34-year wait to grace the biggest domestic stage once again.
Manchester City: Eyes on Redemption
In Pep Guardiola’s ninth season, City remain relentless in cup competitions, reaching a record seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final by brushing aside Bournemouth in the quarters.
Despite missing several key names, City’s form has steadied in spring, winning five of their last six games and netting in 21 straight FA Cup matches.
With a Champions League place still firmly in their sights, City’s hunger for silverware shows no sign of slowing.
Nottingham Forest: Playing with House Money
Nottingham Forest’s unlikely journey to Wembley has been built on nerves of steel, prevailing in three consecutive penalty shootouts to reach the last four.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are flourishing, upsetting Tottenham on Monday and sitting firmly in the Premier League’s top-five battle.
With memories of their 1991 final loss still lingering, the Garibaldi faithful dare to believe that another chapter of cup history could be written.
Team News
Manchester City’s injury problems persist, with Erling Haaland (ankle), Rodri (ACL), Nathan Ake (ankle), and John Stones (thigh) still sidelined. Goalkeeper Ederson (groin) is a serious doubt, and Oscar Bobb’s recovery has also stalled.
James McAtee is suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the competition, forcing Guardiola to likely turn to Jeremy Doku after his late heroics against Aston Villa.
Left-back Nico O’Reilly, boasting five goal involvements in four FA Cup appearances, remains a wildcard threat.
For Nottingham Forest, suspensions threaten to derail preparations. Ryan Yates and Neco Williams are both banned, while Ola Aina’s calf injury could leave Forest alarmingly short at right-back. Eric da Silva Moreira (ankle) and Jota Silva (knock) are unavailable, but neither were expected to feature prominently. Nuno Espirito Santo will rely heavily on the creativity of Morgan Gibbs-White and the explosive pace of Anthony Elanga to cause City problems.
Predicted Line-ups
Manchester City:
Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Kovacic, Gundogan; Doku, De Bruyne, Marmoush
Nottingham Forest:
Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Toffolo; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Match Info
- Competition: FA Cup (Semi-final)
- Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
- Referee: Michael Oliver
- Kickoff: 4:30pm (Local Time)
What’s at Stake
A spot in the FA Cup final against a buoyant Crystal Palace on May 17 is the ultimate prize. Manchester City aim to maintain their stranglehold on English cup football, while Nottingham Forest seek to complete one of the most romantic stories in recent Wembley memory. Expect intensity, drama, and a few unexpected twists along the way.
