🗓️ 8 March, 2025 | 🏆 Premier League 🏟 City Ground, Nottingham
Third meets fourth in the Premier League in Saturday’s early kick-off as surprise outfit Nottingham Forest face a Manchester City side who are having a disappointing season compared to their usual high standards. With one point separating the two and fifth-placed Chelsea breathing down their necks, both sides will be looking for the three points to cement their spot in the Champions League places.
🔎 PREDICTIONS FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs MANCHESTER CITY
🏆 FINAL RESULT – WHO WILL PREVAIL?
✅ Nottingham Forest Win
You have to go all the way back to 10 November to find Nottingham Forest’s last defeat on home soil – a 3-1 loss at the hands of Newcastle United. City’s recent capitulations to Liverpool (2-0) and Arsenal (5-1), both of which happened in February, suggest they don’t perform well against top-four sides.
⚖️ Draw
Just one point and one place separate the two sides, with third-placed Forest having the slight advantage. Forest have scored nine fewer Premier League goals than their rivals, but they have conceded four fewer goals too. This suggests two teams that are quite easily matched.
💥 Man City Win
City beat Forest 3-0 earlier this season at the Etihad with Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku grabbing the goals. This ended a disastrous seven-match winless spell for the Mancunians. City have also won four of their last six games, representing something of a return to form. City have the head-to-head form on their side too – they have won the last three matches between the two sides and are unbeaten in the last five against Forest.
⚽ TOTAL GOALS OVER/UNDER
Over 2.5 Goals
Eight of Man City’s last 10 matches in all competitions have had more than 2.5 goals, although their last two Premier League games did not. Six of Forest’s last eight games also had more than 2.5 goals, but their last two matches saw them draw 0-0 against Arsenal and 1-1 against Ipswich.
Under 2.5 Goals
As mentioned, City’s last two Premier League games had fewer than 2.5 goals – a 1-0 win over Tottenham and a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool. Forest drew 0-0 and 1-1 in their last two games in all competitions.
🤝 BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
Yes
With Erling Haaland on one side and Chris Wood on the other, goals can be expected. With 38 Premier League goals between them, the defences will have to be on top form to prevent them from scoring.
No
Nottingham Forest have the fourth-tightest defence in the Premier League, conceding just 33 goals this season. They kept Arsenal out in their last Premier League game at the City Ground and could do the same here. Conversely, City beat Tottenham 1-0 in their last away game, shutting the Londoners out.
⭐ ANYTIME GOALSCORERS
Erling Haaland (Man City) – In the shadow of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah this season, Haaland has still scored 20 goals this campaign and is the second-most prolific striker in the Premier League. He scored the winner against Spurs in City’s last Premier League game.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) – Wood has been sensational for Forest this season, bagging 18 goals in the top flight. With a higher conversion rate than Haaland (37% to 21%), he may have fewer shots but he is more deadly when he takes them.
BETTING TIPS – TOP PICKS!
📈 Draw
📈 Over 2.5 goals
MY VERDICT
Despite City’s demolition of Forest at the Etihad back in December, all signs point to this game being an entertaining high-scoring draw. Haaland and Wood are both devastating strikers when on form and with just one point separating the two sides, I feel it will be honours even at the City Ground.
