Nottingham Forest vs Man City tips and predictions: Citizens cruising to Premier League title
Kevin De Bruyne
Nottingham Forest and Man City will be desperate to claim three big points at opposite ends of the Premier League table when they meet on Sunday (1630 BST)
Man City are in title-winning mode. The Citizens have clicked into gear this month, winning their last four matches and scoring at least four goals in the process.
The last time we saw Pep Guardiola’s side find the net with such regularity was during a 12-match winning streak that secured last season’s Premier League crown.
Nottingham Forest have their own agenda so it would be foolish to expect Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to make this easy, but we also wonder what they can do.
The Portuguese manager is known for creating resilient sides and Forest have been making life difficult for top teams at the City Ground, recently losing by the odd goal to Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool.
Despite their previous, City are operating on another level than anyone else in Europe at present. We expect Guardiola’s side to win every game until the title is sealed.
Kevin De Bruyne set them on their way in the 17th minute at the AMEX, flying through the air like a majestic ginger eagle to nod home a goal Jurgen Klinsmann would be proud of.
Brighton couldn’t cope with the pressure the champions applied and the visitors were out of sight by half-time, allowing them to coast through the second 45.
Yet the blueprint is there for relegation-threatened Forest. It was a little over a year ago when they stood firm under pressure, allowing Chris Wood to net a crucial equaliser in the 82nd minute.
Still, Forest have lost seven of their last 12 Premier League home matches and they’ve struggled to replicate the defiant home form of previous seasons.
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Team news
Nottingham Forest will be without the services of Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly.
Anthony Elanga could be preferred to Gio Reyna as Nuno’s side will look to play on the break.
Erling Haaland wasn’t ready for Thursday’s clash with Brighton but he could return to the bench on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola has no other injury concerns but may opt to rotate. Ruben Dias, John Stones and Jeremy Doku look the most likely candidates should he do so.
Key stats
- Forest have lost seven of their last 12 home matches in the Premier League
- Forest have conceded at least two goals against each of the top-eight sides
- Man City have scored 30 goals in 10 meetings with sides in the bottom five
- Phil Foden has scored five in five, while Kevin De Bruyne has three in three
- The scoring has been opened inside 30 minutes in City’s last seven away matches
Suggested bets
Time of first goal: Under 30 minutes
