Man City vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Title challenging and impressively in-form Manchester City welcome a relegation-battling Nottingham Forest side to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Kick-off date/time: 4 March 2026 at 7:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – Peacock

Man City team news: Haaland to be assessed

Pep Guardiola has said he wants Erling Haaland to return quickly and that the Norwegian would be assessed ahead of this one, alongside England international Nico O'Reilly.

Mateo Kovacic has returned to training, too, but this midweek comes too soon, while his Croatia international teammate Josko Gvardiol remains sidelined for the hosts.

Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri; Foden, Silva, Cherki, Marmoush; Semenyo

Unavailable: Gvardiol (Injured), Alleyne (Injured), Kovacic (Fitness)

Questionable: O'Reilly (Fitness), Haaland (Fitness)

Nottingham Forest team news: Ortega out, Sels fit

Matz Sels has returned to full fitness and that is very well timed with winter window signing Stefan Ortega having now been ruled out due to a calf injury.

Vitor Pereira is also without fellow goalkeeper John, as well as defenders Willy Boly and Nicolo Savona, while Chris Wood continues to be absent for the visitors.

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

Unavailable: John (Injured), Ortega (Injured), Boly (Injured), Savona (Injured), Wood (Injured)

Questionable: 

Man City vs Nottingham Forest prediction

Manchester City come into this one on the back of a slender and hard-fought 1-0 defeat of Leeds United at Elland Road, courtesy of a first-half strike from Antoine Semenyo. The Cityzens have now enjoyed seven victories in their last eight matches across all competitions, with the title now in their own hands in the Premier League.

Vitor Pereira’s reign as Nottingham Forest began with a 3-0 hammering of Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League but they have since lost the second-leg of their knockout playoff round tie at the City Ground, sandwiched in between losses to Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion as they hover just above the danger zone.

Forest are in real trouble as they head to Manchester this week and, despite the inconsistency of the hosts, they have found some form and fluency – as well as some resilience shown from the weekend, and should win quite comfortably.

Man City vs Nottingham Forest tip: Man City to win -1 handicap