Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Match Preview
The Premier League festive schedule continues with a pivotal lunchtime kickoff at the City Ground on Saturday, 27 December 2025. Nottingham Forest, precariously placed in 17th with 18 points, are fighting to stay above the relegation zone. They host a rampant Manchester City side (2nd, 37 points) who have won seven consecutive matches in all competitions. Pep Guardiola’s men are in ruthless form, having just dispatched West Ham 3–0, while Forest are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0–1 loss to Fulham just four days ago. The City Ground atmosphere will be electric as the hosts aim to replicate their famous 1–0 win over City from March 2025.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Match Info
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 18)
- Venue: City Ground, Nottingham (Capacity: 30,404)
- Date: Saturday, 27 December 2025
- Kickoff: 12:30 GMT | 07:30 ET | 18:00 IST
- Referee: Rob Jones (ENG)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Match Stakes
Nottingham Forest (17th — 18 pts):
- Win → Moves to 21 pts; creates significant breathing room from the drop zone
- Draw → A massive bonus point against the champions; boosts morale
- Loss → Could drop into the bottom three if results go against them; pressure mounts
Manchester City (2nd — 37 pts):
- Win → Moves to 40 pts; keeps the pressure on league leaders Arsenal
- Draw → Two points dropped in the title race; allows rivals to pull away
- Loss → Ends the winning streak; a shock setback in their title charge
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Team News
Nottingham Forest:
- Gibbs-White M. — Available (Key Creator – Must Start)
- Anderson E. — Available (Midfield engine)
- Elanga A. — Questionable (Knock vs Fulham)
- Sangare I. — Available (Defensive anchor)
- Rotation: Nuno Espírito Santo may rotate full-backs due to the short turnaround from Dec 23.
Manchester City:
- Haaland E. — Available (Top Scorer – In red-hot form)
- De Bruyne K. — Questionable (Load management likely)
- Rodri — Available (Midfield General)
- Gvardiol J. — Available (Scored in last H2H win)
- Pep’s Warning: Guardiola has publicly warned players about fitness over Christmas; expect a focused, disciplined XI.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Nottingham Forest
- 23/12 — 0–1 vs Fulham (Premier League)
- 14/12 — 3–0 vs Tottenham (Premier League)
- 11/12 — 2–1 vs Utrecht (Europa League)
- 06/12 — 0–3 vs Everton (Premier League)
- 04/12 — 1–0 vs Wolves (Premier League)
Manchester City
- 20/12 — 3–0 vs West Ham (Premier League)
- 18/12 — 2–0 vs Brentford (EFL Cup)
- 14/12 — 3–0 vs Crystal Palace (Premier League)
- 11/12 — 2–1 vs Real Madrid (UCL)
- 06/12 — 3–0 vs Sunderland (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 27/04/2025 — Nottingham Forest 0–2 Manchester City (FA Cup)
- 08/03/2025 — Nottingham Forest 1–0 Manchester City (Premier League)
- 05/12/2024 — Manchester City 3–0 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- 28/04/2024 — Nottingham Forest 0–2 Manchester City (Premier League)
- 23/09/2023 — Manchester City 2–0 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)
Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Sangare; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Anderson; Wood
Manchester City (4-1-4-1)
Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri; Silva, Foden, Gundogan, Doku; Haaland
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Impact Bench
Nottingham Forest: Awoniyi (Physical threat), Ward-Prowse (Set-piece specialist)
Manchester City: Grealish (Ball retention), Savinho (Direct dribbling)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Tactical Analysis
Nottingham Forest
At the City Ground, Forest are a different beast. They will likely set up in a low block to frustrate City, looking to hit on the counter through the pace of Hudson-Odoi and the vision of Morgan Gibbs-White. Their recent 3–0 win over Spurs showed they can punish big teams if given space. However, their defensive discipline must be perfect; one lapse against Haaland is fatal.
Manchester City
City are in “machine mode.” They have kept 4 clean sheets in their last 5 games. Expect them to dominate possession (70%+) and probe patiently. Pep will likely use Doku or Savinho to stretch Forest’s wide defense, creating pockets for Foden and Haaland centrally. If they score early, it could be a long afternoon for Forest.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Key Battles
- Haaland vs Murillo — The league’s best striker vs Forest’s best defender
- Gibbs-White vs Rodri — The battle for space in the #10 role
- Williams vs Doku — Pace vs trickery on the flank
- Sels vs The Occasion — Forest GK needs a Man of the Match performance
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Spotlight Players
Nottingham Forest — Morgan Gibbs-White
He is the heartbeat of this Forest team. Everything good goes through him. If Forest are to get a result, Gibbs-White needs to be perfect in transition.
Manchester City — Erling Haaland
He scored a brace against West Ham last time out and loves playing against teams that sit deep. His movement in the box is currently unplayable.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Prediction
Nottingham Forest 0–3 Manchester City
City are simply too strong right now. Forest’s inconsistency and the short rest period after the Fulham loss will likely be their undoing. Guardiola’s side should control the game from start to finish and secure a comfortable away victory.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Betting Insights
- Manchester City to Win (-1.5 Handicap) — High Value
- Erling Haaland to Score — Very Likely
- Both Teams to Score — NO (City’s defense is rock solid)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — Where to Watch
- UK: TNT Sports 1 / Ultimate
- USA: USA Network / Peacock
- International: DAZN (Canada), Optus Sport (Australia)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City — FAQs
Q: When is the Nottingham Forest vs Man City match?
A: The match kicks off on Saturday, 27 December 2025, at 12:30 GMT.
Q: Is Erling Haaland playing?
A: Yes, he is fit and expected to start.
Q: Can I watch the match in the UK?
A: Yes, it will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.
Q: Who is the favorite?
A: Manchester City are heavy favorites given their 2nd place standing and 7-game winning streak.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Can Forest stop the City machine?
If you enjoyed this preview, follow SportsphereArena.com for post-match ratings and Premier League analysis.
Stay connected for real-time updates.
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game.
👇 Comment your score prediction below 👇
