Match Preview and Team News: Man City vs Nottingham Forest

Manchester City hosts Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, looking to keep pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal, while Forest aims to avoid the relegation zone.

City is in strong form, having won their last six matches in all competitions. A recent 1–0 win over Leeds United keeps them five points behind Arsenal, though they have a game in hand. They’ve turned the Etihad into a tough venue, winning 16 of their last 19 home league games. Historically, Nottingham Forest has struggled at the Etihad, losing all three of their away Premier League matches there since promotion, with an aggregate score of 11–0.

Nottingham Forest travels under pressure, sitting just two points above the relegation zone. Under new coach Vítor Pereira, they are still searching for their first Premier League win, having lost 2–1 to Brighton last Sunday, marking their third straight defeat in all competitions. They need to address a defensive crisis that has left them without key players. Facing a City side that has won 24 of their last 26 Premier League home games on Wednesdays, Forest has a challenging task ahead.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview and team news

• Date: Wednesday, 4 March 2026
• Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
• Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
• Referee: Darren England
• VAR: Tony Harrington
• Last Meeting: Nottingham Forest 1–2 Manchester City (27 Dec 2025), Premier League

Team News

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola is concerned about the fitness of striker Erling Haaland, who missed the Leeds match due to injury. Although he is feeling better, a decision will be made late on Tuesday. Midfielder Nico O’Reilly is also uncertain with an ankle injury. The team will definitely be without Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, who are long-term injuries. However, Max Alleyne is back in training and could be included in the squad.

Nottingham Forest

Vítor Pereira faces a squad hit by several knee injuries. Chris Wood won’t return until at least April, and others like Willy Boly and John Victor are also unavailable. Matz Sels, recovering from a groin issue, will be crucial as former City keeper Stefan Ortega is out with a calf injury. Full-back Neco Williams will be evaluated after showing fatigue against Brighton.

Form

Manchester City

City has shown consistent performance recently, winning four consecutive Premier League matches and six overall. Their most recent result was a 1–0 win at Leeds after a tough 2–1 victory over Newcastle. Notably, 39% of their wins this season have been by just one goal, the highest in over a decade. City averages 2.85 points per game at home on Wednesdays.

Nottingham Forest

Forest seeks their first league win under Vítor Pereira after suffering a 2–1 loss to Brighton and a 1–0 defeat against Liverpool. Pereira is yet to secure a Premier League victory this season across his time with both Wolves and Forest, spanning 12 matches. Defensively, Forest has struggled at the Etihad, one of only three teams to fail to score there while conceding over ten goals.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez; Cherki, Reijnders, Foden, Semenyo; Marmoush

Nottingham Forest Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus

How to Watch Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 4, with coverage starting at 19:00 GMT ahead of the 19:30 kick-off.

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