We have reached the penultimate stage of the 2024/25 FA Cup, with only two matches remaining before we crown new champions. Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City is the second semi-final, with the two Premier League top-five rivals facing off at Wembley on Sunday.
Nottingham Forest reached the FA Cup semi-final by beating Luton Town, Exeter City, Ipswich Town, and Brighton & Hove Albion in the previous rounds. Interestingly, the Tricky Trees have needed three successive penalty shootout victories in as many matches to qualify for the stage. However, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have blown hot and cold in the last few weeks, winning only one of their three most recent outings.
On the other hand, Manchester City came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 and book a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. The Citizens had gone past Salford City, Leyton Orient, and Plymouth Argyle in the previous stages. Meanwhile, the performances and results have improved at the Etihad in the last few weeks, with Pep Guardiola’s men on a ten-match unbeaten run.
Nottingham Forest and Manchester City have locked horns twice this season, with both teams clinching a victory with a clean sheet in their home games. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Nuno Espirito Santo has new roster issues that are hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Nottingham Forest manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players vs Manchester City on Sunday.
Neco Williams and Ryan Yates are the only absentees, with the duo serving suspensions this weekend due to the accumulation of yellow cards. Nuno has been sweating over the fitness of Ola Aina, Eric Moreira, and Jota Silva. However, the trio should be fit and available to take on Manchester City.
Matz Sels is the automatic pick between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester City on Sunday. The backline should feature Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Harry Toffolo.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Nicolas Dominguez and Elliot Anderson. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, with Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi being the two wide attackers. Finally, Chris Wood will lead the line for Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Toffolo; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Like his counterpart in the Nottingham Forest dugout, Pep Guardiola has a new issue to worry about ahead of the trip to Wembley. The Manchester City manager will be without as many as half a dozen players on Sunday.
James McAtee is the latest absentee due to the accumulation of yellow cards. The English playmaker has joined Ederson Moraes (groin), Nathan Ake (ankle), John Stones (thigh), Oscar Bobb (foot), and Erling Haaland (ankle) on the sidelines.
Stefan Ortega will take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The backline should feature Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Nico O’Reilly.
As for the midfield unit, Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan should pair up in the double pivot, with Kevin De Bruyne reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Omar Marmoush will spearhead the Manchester City attack against Nottingham Forest, with Jeremy Doku and Bernardo Silva being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Doku; Marmoush
While Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Omar Marmoush were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Kevin De Bruyne as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley.
Since his debut in the FA Cup in January 2016, De Bruyne has been involved in more goals in the competition proper than any other player (28 – G10 A18). With the Belgian international on the cusp of leaving Manchester City, he will want to bow out with a trophy. So, expect the veteran playmaker to be at his best this weekend.
Nottingham Forest and Manchester City have traded blows in the two meetings thus far in the 2024/25 season, and there might not be much to separate them this weekend. However, with Manchester City peaking in the last few weeks and Nottingham Forest blowing hot and cold, the Citizens might fancy their prospects.
Omar Marmoush should make his mark again, with Kevin De Bruyne rising to the occasion. However, Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Anthony Elanga should deliver another special performance to clinch a shock victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Nuno Espirito Santo and his charges.
