Manchester Metropolis return to league motion this weekend trying to safe an important three factors within the race for Champions League soccer as they face Nottingham Forest.
Of their final fixture, Metropolis secured a spot in a seventh successive FA Cup quarter-final spherical, rising victorious by way of a 3-1 scoreline in a hard-fought victory towards a resilient Plymouth Argyle aspect.
Metropolis dominated the vast majority of the sport, having the lion’s share of possession and producing numerous nice probabilities, however struggled to use that scientific end, however continued to use relentless strain all through the first-half with the Plymouth Argyle aim underneath siege.
Towards the run of play, nevertheless, it was the Championship aspect who took the lead on the Etihad Stadium, with Maksym Talovierov climbing highest to go dwelling from a nook to ship over 7,000 travelling supporters delirious.
Simply seconds earlier than the interval, Nico O’Reilly latched onto an incredible set-piece supply from Kevin De Bruyne, permitting him to information his header previous Conor Hazard, making the scores stage on the half-time break.
Manchester Metropolis took the ethical enhance of the equaliser into the second half and continued to pile the strain on the guests however struggled to search out the breakthrough. Lastly, within the 76th minute, O’Reilly put the Blues in entrance, grabbing his second of the sport with a thumping header on the again submit following a Phil Foden nook.
The competition subsequently opened up, permitting more room for Manchester Metropolis to function, finally resulting in substitute Erling Haaland squaring the ball to Kevin De Bruyne to seal a 3-1 victory for the Blues.
Manchester Metropolis’s opponents on Saturday come into the sport in considerably inconsistent league kind with only one victory from the final 5, drawing one and dropping the opposite three. Since a 7-0 victory over Brighton, the one level Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect have picked up within the league was at dwelling in a comparatively flat 0-0 draw two weeks in the past.
In regard to league standings, Metropolis shall be determined to safe a win as they presently sit fourth, trailing Nottingham Forest by some extent while having a superior aim distinction – so this match has enormous implications for either side.
Metropolis want to safe Champions League soccer for a fifteenth consecutive season, whereas Forest shall be trying to pull off a historic achievement with the previous European champions sights set upon securing a spot within the competitors for the primary time since 1990.
This match is extremely important for either side because the race for UEFA Champions League locations comes all the way down to the wire within the last few months of the marketing campaign, with each hungry to safe these qualifying locations. Right here’s every part you might want to know forward of the competition!
Match Particulars
Manchester Metropolis journey to the Metropolis Floor to face Nottingham Forest this Saturday afternoon with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 (UK).
Match Officers
The Premier League has confirmed that Chris Kavanagh will oversee proceedings as match referee as Manchester Metropolis face Nottingham Forest this Saturday lunchtime.
Try the total record of match officers beneath!
Staff Information
Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi is a doubt for Nottingham Forest towards Manchester Metropolis after sustaining concussion and a damaged nostril of their tie towards Exeter Metropolis within the FA Cup three weeks in the past.
Substitute goalkeeper Carlos Miguel can be a doubt for the hosts after selecting up a knock in the identical fixture, with the Brazilian additionally absent from Forest’s most up-to-date cup fixture towards Ipswich City.
As for Manchester Metropolis, Nathan Ake has been most not too long ago added to the record of defensive damage woes, with the Dutch worldwide doubtlessly dominated out for the rest of the marketing campaign after present process surgical procedure on a stress fracture in his foot.
The 30-year-old revealed in an announcement this week that he had tried to play by the issue for months however couldn’t proceed any additional, and was substituted on the interval towards Plymouth Argyle after closely limping and in some discomfort.
Oscar Bobb was photographed partaking in first-team coaching on Wednesday after being out for longer than anticipated with a fractured leg sustained originally of the season, and following his restoration with an ankle difficulty in coaching in early February.
It’s understood that the Norwegian is transferring ever nearer to a return to aggressive first-team soccer, however Manchester Metropolis are reluctant to hurry him again and it stays unknown if he shall be a part of the first-team squad travelling to Nottingham Forest this weekend.
John Stones and Manuel Akanji shall be absent attributable to their longer-term damage issues, becoming a member of Rodri on the sidelines for this one too, regardless of the Spaniard returning to the grass with the ball at his ft in latest days as a part of a person coaching programme.
Head to Head
These two sides have confronted one another 84 occasions, with Manchester Metropolis securing 34 victories and Forest securing 26, and the honours have remained even on 24 events.
Of their final conflict, Manchester Metropolis emerged 3-0 victors, with Bernardo Silva opening the scoring early on earlier than Chris Wooden missed a golden alternative one-on-one with Stefan Ortega flashing his shot vast of the goal.
Wooden would then rue these missed alternatives as Kevin De Bruyne would double Manchester Metropolis’s lead only a minute later, with Jeremy Doku sealing the three factors early within the second half, topping off a dominant dwelling victory again in December.
Statistics
Nottingham Forest are winless of their final 9 league video games towards Manchester Metropolis (D2, L7) since a 3-2 win at Maine Street within the second tier in December 1997.
Manchester Metropolis have gained their final three Premier League video games towards Nottingham Forest by an combination rating of 7-0. They’ve by no means gained 4 in a row towards Forest within the prime flight earlier than.
For the reason that begin of November, that is Manchester Metropolis’s eighth Premier League sport beginning the day within the prime 4 of the desk. They’ve taken only one level from the earlier seven on this run, conceding a minimum of twice in every match (19 in complete).
As beforehand talked about, Nottingham Forest are winless of their final three Premier League video games since beating Brighton 7-0 final month (D1, L2). They final went 4 and not using a win in April 2024 (D1, L3), the fourth sport of which was a 2-0 dwelling loss to Manchester Metropolis.
Nottingham Forest are winless of their final three Premier League video games since beating Brighton 7-0 final month (D1 L2). They final went 4 and not using a win in April 2024 (D1, L3), the fourth sport of which was a 2-0 dwelling loss to Manchester Metropolis.
Solely Liverpool (22) and Arsenal (18) have gained extra factors within the Premier League in 2025 than Manchester Metropolis (16 – W5, D1, L2), with no group netting extra typically within the prime flight than the Blues this calendar yr (21 – similar as Liverpool).
Solely league leaders Liverpool (12) have stored extra clear sheets within the Premier League this season than Nottingham Forest (11), who might preserve three consecutive shutouts at dwelling within the league for the primary time since April 2022 within the Championship.
How To Watch
For viewers in the UK, the match will be streamed dwell on TNT Sports activities 1 and Discovery+ with motion getting underway at 12:30 PM GMT, whereas radio commentary is regionally out there on BBC Radio Manchester.
For viewers in the USA, the match will be streamed dwell on a number of platforms akin to NBC Sports activities from 6:30 AM (EST).
You will discover full world TV listings for the match
Metropolis Xtra may have full dwell protection out there on our , , and channels all through Wednesday night, with content material additionally offered on and !