Nottingham Forest will host Manchester City at the City Ground on Saturday lunchtime, with both teams aiming to strengthen their top-four aspirations in the Premier League.
Manchester City secured a comfortable 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in December and will be looking to complete a league double over Forest for the second consecutive season.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Nottingham Forest have exceeded expectations, competing for a Champions League spot while also progressing to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Their cup journey has seen them edge past Exeter City and Ipswich Town via penalty shootouts, with the latter match requiring 120 minutes before a dramatic 5-4 win from the spot.
However, Forest have struggled in the league recently, collecting just one point from their last three matches following a 7-0 thrashing of Brighton.
Defeats to Fulham (2-1) and Newcastle (4-3) were followed by a goalless home draw against Arsenal, allowing the chasing pack to close the gap in the race for European football.
History is not on Forest’s side, as they are winless in their last nine league encounters with City (D2, L7) since a 3-2 victory at Maine Road in 1997.
Manchester City enter the fixture on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the league and a comeback 3-1 FA Cup win against Plymouth Argyle.
Kevin De Bruyne played a key role, scoring once and assisting twice to set up a quarter-final clash with Bournemouth.
Pep Guardiola’s side are aiming to consolidate their top-four status and could finish the weekend in third place with a victory.
While City have struggled in away matches against fellow top-four contenders this season, they have been in strong form in 2025, picking up 16 points (W5, D1, L2) and netting 21 goals—the joint-most alongside Liverpool.
City have won their last three Premier League meetings with Forest without conceding, scoring seven goals in the process.
Another win would mark their best-ever streak against the Tricky Trees in the top flight.
Team News:
Nottingham Forest will be without backup goalkeeper Carlos Miguel (hamstring), while Matz Sels continues in goal after his penalty heroics against Ipswich. Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams are expected to return to the defense, with Elliot Anderson potentially featuring in midfield. Morgan Gibbs-White is likely to start in the playmaker role behind in-form striker Chris Wood, who has been involved in 11 goals in his last nine league appearances.
Manchester City’s injury concerns include Rodri (ACL), Manuel Akanji (abductor), John Stones (thigh), Oscar Bobb (fitness), and Nathan Ake (foot).
Guardiola made significant rotations in the FA Cup win over Plymouth but is expected to restore key players, including Ederson, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku, while Erling Haaland leads the attack.
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Danilo, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Kovacic; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland
