Nottingham Forest face Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on 27th April 2025 in an FA Cup semi-final clash. Forest stunned City in the Premier League earlier this season and will hope to repeat the feat under the famous arch, but Pep Guardiola’s troops will be out for revenge. Kick Off Nigeria editor Ayomide Oguntimehin previews what should be expected from this cup showdown.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Match Preview
The FA Cup offers Forest a shot at glory as they continue their impressive Premier League campaign. Their dramatic 1–0 win over City in March shows they can compete, and their recent victory over Tottenham further boosts belief. However, inconsistency remains their Achilles’ heel.
Manchester City enter Wembley as favourites and with serious momentum. Pep’s men have netted 11 goals in their last four matches and haven’t lost in five. After brushing past Leicester and Crystal Palace, the Cityzens now turn their full focus to domestic silverware.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
- 08.03.25 – Nottingham 1–0 Manchester City
- 04.12.24 – Manchester City 3–0 Nottingham
- 28.04.24 – Nottingham 0–2 Manchester City
- 23.09.23 – Manchester City 2–0 Nottingham
- 18.02.23 – Nottingham 1–1 Manchester City
Despite their recent league success against City, Forest have only one win in their last five meetings. City have won three of those and kept three clean sheets.
Nottingham Forest Recent Form Analysis
Forest have shown grit in the cup and flashes of quality in the league. Their 1–0 win over Brighton in the FA Cup quarter-final proves their defensive resilience, while a 2–1 away victory at Tottenham was another reminder of their potential to spring surprises.
Manchester City Recent Form Analysis
Manchester City arrive at Wembley in red-hot form. They’ve won four of their last five matches in all competitions. A hard-fought 2–1 victory over Aston Villa was followed by a comfortable 2–0 win away at Everton. Before that, they dismantled Crystal Palace 5–2 at the Etihad. A goalless draw in the Manchester Derby was a rare blip, but they quickly responded by seeing off Leicester 2–0. With this, City look every bit like the cup favourites they are.
Player to Watch
Taiwo Awoniyi: The Nigerian striker could be Forest’s wildcard at Wembley. His eye for goal could unsettle a City backline that occasionally leaves space behind. If Forest are to cause an upset, Awoniyi must deliver.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Best Odds and Betting Tips
We’ve identified the following as the best tips for this match:
- Manchester City to Win – 1.76 on 1xBet
