Nottingham Forest collide with Man City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 27 April. Read our FA Cup predictions for the contest below.
Contents
- 1 Nottingham Forest vs Man City prediction: City to dash Forest’s cup dreams
- 2 Pre-game odds and win probability: City priced as favourites
- 3 Most recent H2Hs: Revenge on the agenda for City
- 4 Nottingham Forest preview: Aina missing in defence
- 5 Man City preview: De Bruyne to lead the line?
- 6 Player to watch – Nico O’Reilly
Nottingham Forest vs Man City prediction: City to dash Forest’s cup dreams
Key Stats
- Man City have won five and drawn one of their last six fixtures.
- Man City scored exactly two goals in five of their last seven assignments.
- Five players were carded when Forest and Man City last met in March.
- Six of Forest’s last seven matches away from the City Ground have featured goals at both ends.
Correct score prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Man City
Manchester City have won five of their last six games, and they have hit exactly two goals in four of those victories. Another brace on Sunday could be enough to book City a place in the FA Cup final for the 14th time.
Pre-game odds and win probability: City priced as favourites
- HOME: 15/4 (4.75) – 21.1%
- DRAW: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%
- AWAY: 7/10 (1.70) – 58.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Nottingham Forest have been losing the expected goals battle against their opponents most weeks for an extended period, so it isn’t all that surprising to see them listed as 15/4 underdogs ahead of Sunday’s semi-final.
Man City’s dramatic late win over Aston Villa last time out was their fifth win in six matches and Pep Guardiola’s in-form troops have a 58.8% chance of winning again on Sunday. View more of our football predictions and FA Cup analysis on our dedicated page.
Most recent H2Hs: Revenge on the agenda for City
Man City lost their last duel with Forest in March, though the Manchester giants won three meetings in a row between the clubs before that.
England Premier League 08/03/25
Nottm Forest
Man City
England Premier League 04/12/24
Man City
Nottm Forest
England Premier League 28/04/24
Nottm Forest
Man City
England Premier League 23/09/23
Man City
Nottm Forest
England Premier League 18/02/23
Nottm Forest
Man City
Nottingham Forest preview: Aina missing in defence
Ola Aina, Jota Silva and Eric da Silva Moreira are out injured for Forest. Expect the Reds to start with a back three-five against City with Anthony Elanga a possibly potent counter-attacking weapon further forward on a big Wembley pitch.
Predicted lineup: Sels (GK), Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, Moreno, Dominguez, Anderson, Danilo, Elanga, Wood
England Premier League 11/05/25
D
Leicester
2
Nottm Forest
2
England Premier League 05/05/25
D
Crystal Palace
1
Nottm Forest
1
England Premier League 01/05/25
L
Brentford
2
Nottm Forest
0
England FA Cup 27/04/25
L
Man City
2
Nottm Forest
0
England Premier League 21/04/25
W
Tottenham
1
Nottm Forest
2
Man City preview: De Bruyne to lead the line?
Ederson, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rodri and Erling Haaland make up a big-name quintet of injured City players. Kevin De Bruyne played a hybrid false nine role against Villa last weekend and the Belgian veteran could occupy a similar position on Sunday.
Predicted lineup: Ortega (GK), Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Kovacic, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, Marmoush, De Bruyne
England Premier League 10/05/25
D
Southampton
0
Man City
0
England Premier League 02/05/25
W
Wolverhampton
0
Man City
1
England FA Cup 27/04/25
W
Nottm Forest
0
Man City
2
England Premier League 22/04/25
W
Aston Villa
1
Man City
2
England Premier League 19/04/25
W
Everton
0
Man City
2
Player to watch – Nico O’Reilly
Academy graduate and local Manchester lad, Nico O’Reilly, has been enjoying a breakout campaign for City and the versatile 20-year-old is certain to feature in Sunday’s cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium.
Flexible O’Reilly can shine again
O’Reilly became the fourth-youngest player to score in back-to-back Premier League appearances for Manchester City when he notched against Aston Villa last weekend and the youngster’s bursts forward from left back could be something to look out for on Sunday.