Manchester City return to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, aiming to maintain their pursuit of Premier League leaders Arsenal against a Nottingham Forest side battling to stay above the drop zone.
The Citizens arrive in ruthless form, having won their last six matches across all competitions. A clinical 1–0 victory over Leeds United on Saturday ensured City remained within touching distance of the summit, trailing the Gunners by five points with a crucial game in hand. While City have transformed the Etihad into a fortress—winning 16 of their last 19 home league games—they face a Forest side that has historically struggled to contain them in Manchester. Notably, Forest have lost all three of their away Premier League games at the Etihad since returning to the top flight by a staggering aggregate score of 11–0.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, travel north under immense pressure as they sit just two points above the relegation zone. Life under new head coach Vítor Pereira has yet to yield a Premier League victory, with Sunday’s 2–1 loss at Brighton marking a third consecutive defeat in all competitions. Despite showing flashes of personality in their recent European exploits, the Tricky Trees must find a way to solve a defensive crisis that has left them without several key senior figures. Facing a City side that has won 24 of their last 26 Premier League home games played on a Wednesday, Forest face a monumental task to avoid being dragged into the bottom three.
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 sweating over the fitness of star striker Erling Haaland, who missed the Leeds match with a knock. While the manager noted Haaland feels “much better,” a late decision will be made on Tuesday. Midfielder Nico O’Reilly is also a doubt after picking up an ankle injury at Elland Road. The hosts are definitely without Croatian duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, both of whom remain long-term absentees. However, Max Alleyne has returned to first-team training and is expected to be in the squad.
Nottingham Forest
Vítor Pereira manages a squad significantly depleted by a wave of knee injuries. Chris Wood remains sidelined until at least April, while Willy Boly, John Victor, and Nicolò Savona are also unavailable. In goal, Matz Sels has made a timely recovery from a groin issue, which is vital as former City keeper Stefan Ortega is ruled out with a calf injury. Full-back Neco Williams will be assessed after appearing jaded in the defeat to Brighton.
Form
Manchester City
The Sky Blues have been the picture of consistency lately, winning four consecutive Premier League matches and six in a row in all competitions. Most recently, they ground out a 1–0 win at Leeds following a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Newcastle. Notably, 39% of City’s wins this season have come by a single goal, their highest such proportion in over a decade. Guardiola’s side has also been historically dominant on Wednesdays, averaging 2.85 points per game at home on that specific day.
Nottingham Forest
Forest arrive in Manchester searching for their first league win under Vítor Pereira. Their recent form includes a 2–1 defeat at Brighton on Sunday and a narrow 1–0 home loss to Liverpool last week. Notably, Pereira remains winless in the Premier League this season across his time with Wolves and Forest, a run spanning 12 matches. The Tricky Trees have also struggled defensively at the Etihad, becoming one of only three sides in competition history to fail to score while shipping 10+ goals at a single stadium.
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 televised live in the UK on TNT Sports 4. Coverage begins at 19:00 GMT ahead of the 19:30 kick-off.
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