Second-placed Manchester City host 17th-placed Nottingham Forest at the Etihad, with City chasing leaders Arsenal, while Forest is fighting relegation.
| Tournament: | Premier League |
|---|---|
| Venue: | Etihad Stadium, Manchester |
| Date: | 04.03.2026 |
| Time: | 19:30 GMT |
Man City vs Nottingham Forest Form and Head to Head
The reigning champions, Manchester City, arrive in scintillating form, having won their last four Premier League matches. Their most recent outing saw them secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Leeds, maintaining pressure at the top.
This impressive run sees the home side ranked first in the league's form table for their last six matches, boasting four wins and two draws. The Citizens have also shown their dominance at home, winning their last three home matches across all competitions.
Nottingham Forest, in contrast, find themselves in a precarious position, having failed to win any of their last five Premier League matches. Their latest result was a 2-1 defeat on the road against Brighton. The visitors currently sit 15th in the form table for their last six league games, registering just one win, two draws, and three losses during this period.
The recent history between these two clubs has been largely dominated by the Manchester outfit. In their last six meetings across all competitions, City have emerged victorious five times, with Forest managing just one win.
The most recent clash, back in December 2025, saw the Citizens claim a 2-1 away victory against Forest in the Premier League. Notably, City have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six home matches against Nottingham Forest, underlining their defensive solidity when facing the Reds at the Etihad.
Who is the Betting Favourite in Man City vs Nottingham Forest?
Manchester City are the emphatic betting favourites to beat Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium. Latest odds imply roughly a 73% chance of a City win, around 11% for Forest, with the draw making up the remaining probability.
| Match Result | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 4/9 | Betfred |
| Nottingham Forest | 7/1 | AK Bets |
| Draw | 4/1 | SpreadEx |
Odds last updated at 5PM Wednesday, 4th March.
Man City vs Nottingham Forest Team News
Manchester City have a few injury concerns heading into this fixture. J. Gvardiol and M. Kovacic are both sidelined with injuries. There's also a doubt over N. O'Reilly, who hobbled off with an ankle injury in the last match. Crucially, star striker E. Haaland is listed as doubtful due to a knee problem, having missed the win at Leeds. Omar Marmoush is poised to retain his starting spot if Haaland is not passed fit.
Nottingham Forest also have their share of absentees. C. Wood, J. Victor, and N. Savona are all out injured. Goalkeeper S. Ortega is nursing a knee problem and is listed as doubtful, meaning Matz Sels, who started the last game, could continue between the sticks. None of Forest's other long-term absentees are expected to return for this clash.
Man City vs Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineups
Man City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Aït-Nouri; Rodri, González; Semenyo, Silva, Marmoush; Haaland
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Sangaré, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Jesus
Lineups powered by WhoScored.
Man City vs Nottingham Forest Match Prediction
Manchester City look a level above heading into this one. At the Etihad, they’ve been relentless all season, controlling games with patient possession and picking teams apart down the wings, and punishing mistakes with sharp counter-attacks. When they get into rhythm, they create chances from everywhere, whether it’s a clever through ball or a moment of individual brilliance.
Nottingham Forest have struggled in areas that play right into City’s hands. They’ve found it tough to defend set pieces, deal with long shots and quick breaks, and cut out costly errors. Against a side as clinical as City, those weaknesses can quickly be exposed.With City dropping just seven home points all season and scoring 11 unanswered goals in their last three league meetings with Forest at the Etihad, everything points towards a comfortable home win.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Man City vs Nottingham Forest Match Stat Trends
Our EV Eagle has picked out five trending player stats for Man City vs Nottingham Forest.
Find 100s more player stat trends in our Trends Tool, available to Oddschecker+ Premium subscribers.
Elliot Anderson has exceeded 0.5 Shots in 8 of their last 10 games.
Best odds of 3/4 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Rayan Cherki has exceeded 0.5 Fouls in 4 of their last 5 games.
Best odds of 5/6 at bet365 while publishing.
Morgan Gibbs-White has exceeded 0.5 Shots On Target in 4 of their last 5 PL games.
Best odds of 23/20 at Betway while publishing.
There have been 27+ shots taken in 5 of Manchester City's last 5 matches in Premier League.
Best odds of 6/5 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Manchester City have scored 2+ goals in 5 of their last 6 matches in Premier League.
Best odds of 4/9 at AK Bets while publishing.
Man City vs Nottingham Forest Bet Builder Tip
Our Man City vs Nottingham Forest Bet Builder Tip includes:
- No - Both Teams To Score
- Over 2.5 - Total Goals Over/Under
- Antoine Semenyo - To Score Or Assist
- M. Guehi Over 0.5 - Shots
Best odds of 9/1 at bet365 while publishing.
No – Both Teams To Score
Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six home games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions. Given Forest’s struggles at the Etihad, it’s easy to see City shutting them out again.
Over 2.5 Goals
Forest have visited the Etihad three times since returning to the Premier League — losing all three, conceding 11 goals and failing to score once. When these sides meet in Manchester, goals usually follow, and they tend to come from one side.
Antoine Semenyo – To Score or Assist
This market has landed in four of his last five and four of his last six, showing consistent involvement in attacking returns. Semenyo has registered a goal or assist in five of his last 10 games overall, underlining his growing influence in the final third.
Rayan Aït-Nouri – Over 0.5 Shots
Aït-Nouri has recorded at least one shot in four of his last six matches. With his willingness to drive forward from wing-back, he regularly finds himself in positions to test the goalkeeper.
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