Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 04 March 2026
The Matchday 29 fixture of the 2025/26 English Premier League will take place on Wednesday, March 4th, at the Etihad Stadium. In this clash, Manchester City continue their title chase, aiming to keep pace with Arsenal, while Nottingham Forest, under new manager Vítor Pereira, are battling for survival right on the edge of the relegation zone.
Match preview
Manchester City currently sit second in the table (59 points), trailing leaders Arsenal by five. Pep Guardiola's men are in scintillating form, having racked up four consecutive league victories. Last Saturday, the Citizens edged past Leeds 1-0 thanks to a goal from winter signing Antoine Semenyo. City have turned the Etihad into a fortress: they haven’t lost at home since November and have won their last seven home matches on the bounce. Even with some key players sidelined, Guardiola continues to find ways to keep the winning rhythm alive.
The main news from the hosts’ camp is a slight injury to Erling Haaland, which saw him miss the Leeds game. Guardiola expressed hope the Norwegian would recover in time for Wednesday, but with a crucial Champions League trip to Madrid (March 11) looming, he may opt not to risk him. Young talent Nico O’Reilly is also doubtful due to an ankle injury, while Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić are definitely out. Nevertheless, Semenyo’s form and Phil Foden’s creativity give City plenty of attacking confidence.
Nottingham Forest are 17th (27 points), just two points clear of the drop zone. The team is undergoing a turbulent transformation under Vítor Pereira: after a dazzling Europa League win over Fenerbahçe, Forest have suffered three defeats in a row, including a recent 1-2 loss to Brighton. Their away form leaves much to be desired—Forest have only won two of their last six away games, the rest ending in defeat. Historically, they’ve struggled at the Etihad too, losing their last three visits by a combined score of 0-11.
Squad issues are piling up for the visitors. Striker Chris Wood is out after knee surgery, as is injured goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who could have faced his former club. All attacking hopes rest on Morgan Gibbs-White, who is on the verge of breaking the club’s scoring record. Pereira will likely opt for a compact setup, aiming to soak up City’s pressure in midfield and hoping to launch rare counterattacks through Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Key stats and head-to-head
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last nine matches.
- City have opened the scoring in eight of those nine games.
- Nottingham Forest have lost their last three games.
- Three of Forest’s last five matches have seen over two goals scored.
- In the last ten meetings between these sides, City have won six, Forest two, and two have ended in draws.
- The reverse fixture this season ended in a 2-1 win for Manchester City.
Probable lineups
- Manchester City: Donnarumma – Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Aït-Nouri – Rodri – Cherki, Silva, Reijnders – Semenyo, Marmoush
- Nottingham: Sels – Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams – Sangaré, Anderson, Gibbs-White – Hutchinson, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus
Prediction
The gulf in class and City’s relentless title drive all but guarantee high attacking output from the hosts. The Citizens rarely settle for narrow wins at home, and Forest’s defense looks too fragile right now to withstand the City onslaught. Still, the visitors’ boldness on the counter could see them grab a goal of their own, further boosting the prospect of a high-scoring encounter. My prediction: over 2.5 total goals.
