Premier League | Gameweek 28

Mar 8, 2025 at 12.30pm UK

The City Ground

Nott'm Forest vs Man City

Match preview

After fighting off relegation last season, not even the most ardent of Nottingham Forest supporters would have predicted that their side would be challenging for a top-four finish this term, as well as being just one game away from reaching Wembley in the FA Cup.

The Tricky Trees needed penalties to overcome both Exeter City and Ipswich Town in the fourth and fifth rounds of the FA Cup, beating the latter 5-4 on penalties on Monday night after a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes at the City Ground.

Forest will travel to Brighton & Hove Albion in the quarter-finals, but Nuno Espirito Santo's men have suffered a dip in form since their 7-0 Premier League thrashing of the Seagulls on 1 February, picking up just one point from their last three top-flight games.

Back-to-back defeats to Fulham (2-1) and Newcastle United (4-3) were followed by a goalless stalemate at home to Arsenal just over a week ago, and while they remain third in the table, the chasing pack have closed the gap, with just six points separating third and 10th going into the final 11 games of the season.

A return to winning ways will not be a given for Forest on Saturday, as they are winless in their last nine league meetings with Man City (D2 L7), dating back to a 3-2 victory at Maine Road in the second tier in December 1997.

Just three days after securing a narrow 1 - 0 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Manchester City managed to stave off an upset in the FA Cup. Last weekend at the Etihad Stadium, they overcame Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round, coming from behind to win 3 - 1.

Kevin De Bruyne was among the goal - scorers. Moreover, he set up both of Nico O'Reilly's goals, one just before half - time and the other right after it. This performance helped the Citizens progress to the quarter - finals of the FA Cup, where they will face Bournemouth later this month. Thus, their hopes of claiming silverware remain alive.

Pep Guardiola's team are the odds - on favourites with the bookmakers to win the FA Cup. However, their attention will now turn back to the Premier League and their fight to qualify for next season's Champions League. If they defeat Nottingham Forest in Saturday's early kick - off, they can strengthen their position in the top four and are guaranteed to end the weekend in third place.

Manchester City's visit to the City Ground will mark their eighth Premier League game since the start of November in which they begin the day in the top four. In those previous seven such matches, they have managed to pick up only one point. Additionally, they have conceded at least two goals in each of those games, letting in a total of 19 goals.

Nevertheless, in 2025, only Liverpool (with 22 points) and Arsenal (18 points) have amassed more Premier League points than Manchester City, which has 16 points from 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. Also, no team in the top flight has scored more goals this calendar year than the Citizens, who have netted 21 times, the same as Liverpool.

Guardiola's men can approach Saturday's game with confidence. After all, they have won their last three Premier League encounters against Nottingham Forest with an aggregate score of 7 - 0. Historically, they have never won four consecutive top - flight matches against the Tricky Trees.

Recent Performance

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:WLWLLD

Nottingham Forest form (all competitions):WWLLDW

Manchester City Premier League form:WWLWLW

Manchester City form (all competitions):LWLLWW

Team News

Nottingham Forest's only injury absentee is back-up goalkeeper Carlos Miguel (hamstring), while Matz Sels, who saved the decisive spot-kick in the shoot-out win over Ipswich, remains in between the sticks.

Centre-back Nikola Milenkovic and versatile full-back Neco Williams will replace Morato and Alex Moreno in a four-man defence alongside Ola Aina and Murillo, while Elliot Anderson is expected to be recalled in midfield and could start alongside Danilo, Nicolas Dominguez or Ryan Yates.

Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi will both retain their places on the flanks, while Morgan Gibbs-White should be back in the number 10 role behind top scorer Chris Wood, who has been involved in 11 goals in his last nine PL games (eight goals, three assists) and is the only player to have scored against Man City since Forest's return to the PL in 2022.

For Man City, Nathan Ake has joined Rodri (ACL), Manuel Akanji (abductor), John Stones (thigh) and Oscar Bobb (fitness) in the treatment room after undergoing successful surgery on a broken foot earlier this week.

Having made 11 changes to the side that beat Plymouth, Guardiola will look to refresh his squad again on Saturday, with Ederson, Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush all in contention for a recall.

One player expected to start for the Citizens is striker Erling Haaland, who has scored 13 of his 20 goals in all competitions.

Possible starting lineup

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Danilo, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Kovacic; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland