If for Manchester City fighting to qualify for the next Champions League without the possibility, for some time, of aiming for the title is below the minimum of expectations, for Nottingham Forest, arriving in March in third place and in full battle to play next year not only in Europe, but in the most prestigious competition, is an incredible partial achievement. In the advance of the twenty-eighth day of the Premier League at the City Ground, the Reds and Citizens will not have time to reflect but will be called to play a decisive match: third against fourth in the standings, separated by one point with Chelsea and Newcastle, behind and lurking. The two teams come to this match after having both passed the round of the FA CUP, which will therefore see them protagonists in the quarter-finals while, in the last split, there is a difference in the championship and it is in favor of Manchester City or rather against Nottingham Forest, slowing down in recent games even if, the draw in the last game against Arsenal certainly cannot be defined as negative. In the first leg, Manchester City won clearly 3-0 in what was actually the only highlight of two months, November and December, full of disappointments while, on the contrary, for Nottingham Forest, the defeat at the Etihad was the stop before a series of truly remarkable consecutive victories which, in fact, has founded a good part of the current ranking of Espirito Santo's boys.

Nottingham Forest' Shape and Key Statistics

3 defeats, 1 draw and 1 win in the last 5 Premier League games tell a part of the difficulties of Nottingham Forest who, however, in the meantime has also overcome two rounds of FA CUP accessing the Quarter Finals.

The slowdown of the Reds, however, has not affected the home games, where, in the last 11, they have still arrived 8 successes, 2 draws and only 1 defeat.

At the City Ground, in fact, the boys of Espirito Santo, maintain an excellent defensive average: Nottingham Forest, with 10 goals conceded, has, together with Liverpool and Bournemouth, the least beaten home defense in the championship.

Manchester City' Shape and Key Statistics

It is certainly not a statistic from Manchester City of recent years but, at least in this 2025, Manchester City has only lost against the big teams. Except for Liverpool, Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid, in the remaining 10 games of the new year, Manchester City have achieved 9 wins and 1 draw.

Overall, in this Premier League, the record of Guardiola's team says 14 wins, 5 draws and 8 defeats with an attack, perhaps no longer explosive, but with still notable numbers (53 goals in 27 matches).

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Prediction and Tactical Analysis

The reported statistic that Manchester City always loses against the big teams is thought-provoking. Nottingham Forest is not at that level but is still third in the standings and, at home, makes very few mistakes. Furthermore, the unavailabilities speak against Pep Guardiola's team that will have many defenders out (Akanji, Stones, Ake) in addition to Bobb and of course Rodri. Even in a context, as can be seen, of great balance, contemplating the draw, the BetMines algorithm prediction suggests the double chance at home.

• BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Nottingham Forest – Manchester City predicts the 1X sign at 53%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for Nottingham Forest – Manchester City predicts the 2 sign at 47%

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Predicted Lineups

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs – White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood. Coach: Espirito Santo.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Khusanov, Gvardiol; Gonzales, Kovacic; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland. Coach: Guardiola.