Man City Vs Nottingham Forest: Live Score, Preview, Lineup, Telecast Details
| Date | Tonight, Saturday, December 27, 2025 |
| Time | 06:00 PM IST |
| Venue | City Ground, Nottingham |
| Competition | Premier League - Matchday 18 |
🏟️ Festive Fireworks: Man City Target Top Spot at the City Ground
Manchester City travel to the City Ground tonight looking to continue their relentless pursuit of Premier League leaders Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s side enters this festive fixture on a blistering seven-match winning streak across all competitions. A victory today would temporarily move the Citizens to the top of the table, putting maximum pressure on the Gunners ahead of their later kick-off.
Nottingham Forest, led by Sean Dyche, find themselves in 17th place and in desperate need of points to distance themselves from the relegation zone. While their overall form has been inconsistent, they have proven to be a tough nut to crack at home, losing only once in their last six matches at the City Ground. Forest fans will be hoping for a repeat of last season's historic 1-0 victory over the champions.
- Event: Premier League Matchday 18
- Date: Tonight, Saturday, December 27, 2025
- Time: 06:00 PM IST
- Venue: City Ground, Nottingham
- Context: Man City can go top of the table with a win.
📊 Team Analysis & Form
Manchester City (Coach: Pep Guardiola, Form: W W W W W in last 5)
City are in vintage mid-season form. Erling Haaland remains the primary threat, having already netted 19 league goals this term. The big news from the camp is the potential return of Rodri; though he is unlikely to start, his presence on the bench provides a massive psychological boost. However, John Stones and Jeremy Doku remain sidelined through injury, and several stars are away on international duty for AFCON.
Nottingham Forest (Coach: Sean Dyche, Form: L W W L W in last 5)
Sean Dyche has stabilized the Tricky Trees since his arrival, but facing a red-hot City side is his biggest test yet. Forest will likely deploy a low block and rely on the pace of Callum Hudson-Odoi on the counter-attack. Morgan Gibbs-White will be the creative engine, tasked with finding the gaps in City’s high defensive line.
⭐ Key Players
- Man City: Erling Haaland (Forward) - With 5 goals in his last 4 games, the Norwegian is in clinical form and remains the favorite to find the net.
- Man City: Phil Foden (Midfielder) - Boasting 18 goal contributions this season, Foden’s ability to drift between lines will be crucial against a compact defense.
- Nottingham Forest: Callum Hudson-Odoi (Winger) - The hero of last season’s fixture, his directness and recent scoring record at home make him Forest’s main threat.
- Nottingham Forest: Murillo (Defender) - The young Brazilian will need to have the game of his life to keep Haaland quiet for 90 minutes.
🎯 The Key Battlegrounds
- The Dyche Block: Forest will sit deep and invite pressure. City’s patience and ability to move the ball quickly will be tested early on.
- Midfield Dominance: Tijjani Reijnders has been exceptional for City; his duel with Douglas Luiz in the middle of the park could decide the tempo of the game.
- The "12th Man": The City Ground atmosphere is notoriously hostile for big teams. If Forest can survive the first 30 minutes, the home crowd could play a massive role.
🔮 Prediction and Final Word
While Nottingham Forest have shown they can cause an upset at home, Manchester City’s current momentum seems unstoppable. Guardiola’s squad rotation and tactical flexibility should allow them to break down Forest's resistance eventually. Expect City to dominate possession and secure a professional victory to keep their title charge on track.
Predicted Score: Nottingham Forest 0 - 2 Manchester City
Will City take the top spot, or can Forest produce a festive miracle? Kick-off is at 6:00 PM IST!
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