Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 04.03.2026
One of the matches of the 29th round of the English Premier League will take place on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, where Manchester City will host Nottingham Forest. The hosts are locked in a heated title race, while the visitors are fighting for survival — the gap in class between the teams is stark, but motivation is sky-high on both sides. Here’s my take on the likely outcome of this showdown.
Match preview
Pep Guardiola’s side approaches this fixture as one of the most consistent teams in Europe — six straight wins across all competitions and four consecutive victories in the league. The Citizens trail leaders Arsenal by five points with a game in hand, making any slip-up now simply unacceptable. In recent rounds, City have dispatched their opponents with authority, and at home, they’ve displayed an almost flawless balance between attacking flair and control.
The biggest selection question remains around Haaland — the Norwegian striker missed the clash with Leeds due to injury, but the coaching staff hopes to have him back. Even without him, City’s squad depth ensures they maintain attacking intensity, and at the Etihad, the team regularly scores at least twice per game. Seven straight home wins in all competitions — the stat speaks for itself.
The visitors are enduring another turbulent spell: February went by without a single win, and a managerial change once again failed to provide an instant boost. Under Vítor Pereira, Forest lost to Liverpool (0-1) and Brighton (1-2), and now they sit just two points clear of the relegation zone. The pressure on the squad is immense, and the fixture list is unforgiving — with one of the toughest away trips of the season up next.
Squad issues only add to their woes: instability in goal, defensive injuries, and the absence of Chris Wood have all diminished Forest’s attacking threat. In their last six visits to Manchester, the visitors have scored just once — and that came in a cup match. Their league goal drought at this stadium drags on. Given City’s current form, even a draw would be seen as a heroic result.
Probable lineups
- Manchester City: Donnarumma, Ait-Nouri, Dias, Guehi, Lewis, Hernandez, Gonzalez, Marmoush, Silva, Semenyo, Haaland.
- Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Anderson, Sangaré, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Jesus.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Manchester City have won their last six matches in all competitions, including four straight in the Premier League.
- Nottingham Forest haven’t won in the league since January and lost to Liverpool (0-1) and Brighton (1-2) in February.
- In their last five league visits to City, the visitors have failed to score a single goal.
Prediction
The gulf in class and current form is simply too great to expect an upset. The hosts dictate the tempo, rarely falter at home, and know the value of every point in the title race. Forest will try to weather the storm, but City’s depth and organization should see them claim a comfortable victory without unnecessary drama.
