Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City: Betting Odds, Lineups, Predictions, Preview

Explore our detailed preview for Nottingham Forest vs Man City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 16:30 BST match.

Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City
Date: Sunday 27 April 2025
Kick-off: 16:30 BST
Venue: Wembley Stadium

This season's surprise package, Nottingham Forest have enjoyed a brilliant Premier League campaign by allowing their opposition to have most of the ball, before hitting them with unstoppable counter attacks through the pace of players like Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Man City, on the other hand, will want the ball at all times, so the pattern of play here seems easy enough to predict. That being said, Forest's defence this season has been a revelation, and City will have to be at their fluid best to break them down.

Form-wise, City look stronger coming into this semi-final, so Ladbrokes is backing them to edge a tense affair.

Match Predictions: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Man City

Nottingham Forest stride into Wembley for their first FA Cup semi-final since 1991, facing the juggernaut of Manchester City. Forest, fourth in the Premier League, are living a fairy tale, reaching the semis via three penalty shootouts.

Their 1-0 league win over City in March fuels hopebut a 3-0 December loss tempers it. City, 2023 FA Cup winners, are in their seventh straight semi-final, after edging Bournemouth 2-1 in the quarters.

Last 6 matches (all competitions):

• Win: 2-1 vs Tottenham (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Everton (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Man United (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Brighton (A) - FA Cup (won 4-3 on penalties)
• Win: 4-2 vs Ipswich (A)
  

Last 6 matches (all competitions):

• Win: 2-1 vs Aston Villa (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Everton (A)
• Win: 5-2 vs Crystal Palace (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Man United (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Leicester (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Bournemouth (A) - FA Cup

• Win: 2-0 vs Luton (H) (Third Round)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Exeter (A) (won 4-2 on pens) (Fourth Round)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Ipswich (H) (won 5-4 on pens) (Fifth Round)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Brighton (A) (won 4-3 on pens) (Quarter-Final)
  

• Win: 8-0 vs Salford (H) (Third Round)
• Win: 2-1 vs Leyton Orient (A) (Fourth Round)
• Win: 3-1 vs Plymouth (H) (Fifth Round)
• Win: 2-1 vs Bournemouth (A) (Quarter-Final)
  

• Nottingham Forest wins: 1
• Draws: 1
• Man City wins: 4

In the last 10 years, Forest and City have only faced each other a handful of times, with City holding the upper hand. However, Forest's only win in that time came in their most recent match, with the Reds beating City 1-0 in March 2025.

• Ola Aina (Calf) - Doubtful
• Jota Silva (Knock) - Doubtful
  

• Erling Haaland (Ankle) - Out
• Ederson (Groin) - Out
• John Stones (Thigh) - Out
• Nathan Ake (Knock) - Out
• Rodri (Knee) - Out
  

Sels; Yates, Milenković, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Dominguez; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Kovačić, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Silva, Marmoush, Savinho

Nottingham Forest:

• Chris Wood: Leading scorer, physical threat.
• Callum Hudson-Odoi: Scored vs City, pace to burn.
• Matz Sels: Penalty king, Forest's last line.

Manchester City:

• Kevin De Bruyne: Creative, experienced and often inspirational. 
• Nico O’Reilly: Sub-turned-star, in excellent form.
• Omar Marmoush: Quarter-final goalscorer, a versatile weapon.
  

Man City have reached their seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final, while Forest play at this stage for the first time since 1991.

Ladbrokes brings you the most exciting betting promotions, as well as coupons and the latest betting offers to enhance your experience.

For the best FA Cup outright predictions, explore our Football Outright Betting guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.