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Nottingham Forest logo
Premier League | Gameweek 35
Apr 28, 2024 at 4.30pm UK
The City Ground
Manchester City logo

Nott'm Forest
0 - 2
Man City

FT(HT: 0-1)
Gvardiol (32'), Haaland (71')

Preview: Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Manchester City square off against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon looking to keep their Premier League title bid in their own hands.

At a time when the defending champions begin the weekend in second place in the standings with a game in hand, Forest are just one point above the relegation zone.


Match preview

Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their second goal with Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Nathan Ake on April 25, 2024© Reuters

Despite sitting in second position in the table, there is an assumption that Man City will do what they need to do in order to win a record fourth successive Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola's side held a 17-match unbeaten streak in the top flight, a run which has lasted since December, when they made the trip to the American Express Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night.

That undefeated run was swiftly extended to 18, with City moving 3-0 ahead within 34 minutes on the South Coast and eventually scoring four goals for the fourth league fixture in succession, becoming just the third team to achieve that feat.

With Liverpool losing to Everton earlier in the week, City now sit two points clear of the Merseyside giants having played a game fewer, but their focus will be on chasing down leaders Arsenal.

City will have one eye on the North London derby between the Gunners and Tottenham Hotspur that takes place before this meeting at the City Ground, yet Guardiola will stress to his side that they must only prioritise taking care of their own business.

Guardiola will also remind his players that they can unstuck at Forest in last season's corresponding fixture when the East Midlands outfit battled their way to a 1-1 draw.

Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo during Everton game on April 21, 2024.© Reuters

Nevertheless, this is a Forest side that face a team who are unbeaten in 30 matches in all competitions when they have won just one of their last 10 games.

That came against Fulham on April 2, with Forest having since collected just one point from three games against Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton.

Forest responded to losing 2-0 to Everton by posting a bizarre statement on social media, questioning the integrity of the VAR official after three penalty appeals went against them.

Furthermore, Forest are also waiting to discover the outcome of their appeal over a four-point penalty for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, with that expected in the coming days.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side must first try to extend their unbeaten record at the City Ground to four games, while they have only lost seven of 17 such fixtures on familiar territory this campaign.

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:

Manchester City Premier League form:


Manchester City form (all competitions):



Team News

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their first goal on February 27, 2024© Reuters

Erling Haaland has missed the last two fixtures with a minor muscle issue and appears doubtful to return to the Man City XI for this contest.

Guardiola was able to rest five of his key men during the closing stages at Brighton, but the Catalan may consider tinkering with his side given that his top goalscorer is the only injury doubt.

John Stones, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku are most likely to be recalled in central defence or on the left flank respectively.

Meanwhile, Forest are again likely to be without Taiwo Awoniyi due to a thigh injury. The best-case scenario is a return to the substitutes' bench.

Willy Boly is also absent, but Nuno could look to bring Anthony Elanga back into the starting lineup as a replacement for Giovanni Reyna.

Moussa Niakhate made his first appearance in two months last time and will hope to retain his spot in the middle of defence.


Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Dominguez, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Kovacic, Foden; Alvarez


SM words green background

We say: Nottingham Forest 1-4 Manchester City

With Forest well-rested and motivated after the defeat to Everton, City will be faced with a riled-up City Ground. Nevertheless, we still expect City to make relatively light work of Nuno's side, running out convincing victors like they did at Brighton.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Nott'm Forest vs Man City

Nottingham Forest
7.3%
Draw
10.0%
Manchester City
82.7%
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Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their second goal on February 10, 2024
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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