Manchester City Host Nottingham Forest at Etihad to Solidify Second Place in Premier League

Manchester City are set to host Nottingham Forest in a Premier League Matchday 29 fixture. The encounter will take place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on March 4, with Darren England officiating.

The hosts enter the match in second place with 59 points from 28 games, trailing league leaders Arsenal by five points and holding an eight-point advantage over third-placed Manchester United. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, sit 17th with 27 points from the same number of fixtures.

Manchester City boast a perfect record in their last five outings, securing five consecutive victories. In contrast, the visitors have managed just one win and one draw alongside three defeats in their recent matches. Historically, City hold a significant advantage with six wins and one draw compared to Forest's single victory. Their last league meeting on December 27, 2025, ended in a 2-1 win for City.

Manchester City are expected to line up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, potentially featuring Moroccan international Rayan Ait Nouri alongside Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. The team will be without Erling Haaland and Nico O'Reilly due to injury, with doubts surrounding their return. Joško Gvardiol is also sidelined until early May 2026, and Mateo Kovačić requires several days to recover.

On the other side, Nottingham Forest are anticipated to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Matz Sels, Nikola Milenković, and Morgan Gibbs-White expected to feature. Their absentees include Jon Maciel Furtado, who is injured until early June 2026, and Nicolo Savona, whose season has ended. Additionally, Stefan Ortega Moreno is out until mid-March 2026, and Willy Boly until late May 2026.

The match details will be broadcast via the beIN Sports CONNECT Platform.