Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City: Head-to-Head, Form and Match Information

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City brings together two contrasting Premier League records: City won three of their five league meetings from December 2024 to March 2026, while Forest won once and the sides drew once. The previous results, goal records and match statistics offer context beyond any single fixture.

Their 7 November 2026 meeting at the City Ground adds a different story. Forest entered the match struggling for goals despite creating chances, while Enzo Maresca’s City were looking to recover from two successive league defeats. Kick-off was scheduled for 19:30 SAST (17:30 GMT).

Manchester City won three of the five most recent Premier League meetings before November 2026, with Forest winning once and the other game ending level. The latest result in that sequence was a 2–2 draw in Manchester on 4 March 2026, after City had won 2–1 at the City Ground in December 2025.

City scored nine goals and Forest scored four across those five league meetings. These are the results of the specified five-match sample, not an all-time head-to-head record. Forest’s March 2025 home win remains notable alongside City’s stronger recent results.

Nottingham Forest had scored just six goals from 152 Premier League shots before City’s visit, a conversion rate of approximately four per cent. Those figures illustrate the gap between getting into shooting positions and turning chances into goals. Forest had also failed to score in their first four home league games of 2026/27.

Oliver Glasner’s team lost four of their previous five league matches and started the weekend 19th with six points from nine games. The 2–0 defeat at Brentford was another setback in a run that had not rewarded their attacking activity.

Manchester City began the Premier League season with seven straight victories but then lost to Aston Villa and Brighton. The defeats left them second with 21 points after nine matches, three behind Arsenal at the pre-match snapshot. Their 3–2 Champions League victory at RB Leipzig showed a different run of results outside the league.

The shot-quality contrast was also sharp: City’s 18.3 expected goals represented the highest total in the division before the fixture, according to the Opta statistics published by Forest. Expected goals describe the quality of chances created, rather than guaranteeing a future scoreline.

For the broader title race, promoted clubs and season context, read our Premier League 2026/27 season guide.

Forest’s player-availability news included a boost for Igor Jesus, who had returned to full training after a calf injury. Nicolás Domínguez, however, was ruled out for up to eight weeks following a hamstring setback. Glasner also reported progress for Nicolò Savona and minor concerns involving Dan Ndoye and Daniel Muñoz.

For Manchester City, Antoine Semenyo was sidelined with a knee injury. Enzo Maresca said Nico O’Reilly was not fully fit, although his matchday availability had not been decided publicly. These updates concern the pre-match squad situation, not confirmed starting lineups.

Forest’s high shot count and low return make their finishing the clearest football question. Their ability to turn possession and attacking positions into good chances matters more than a general assumption that they will simply defend deep. City have created better-quality chances overall but entered the match needing to recover their league momentum.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s role in connecting midfield and attack is relevant to Forest’s chance creation, while Erling Haaland provides City with a proven central goal threat. Those player responsibilities are useful match context, not a prediction of the result.

The November match is one part of Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City’s Premier League history. For updated fixtures, scores, results and standings, follow SportPesa Score. Confirmed matchday lineups and official highlights should be taken from published match records and rights-holding sources when available.

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Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City combines a recent head-to-head record favouring City with a 2026/27 meeting shaped by Forest’s finishing struggles and City’s interrupted league momentum. Previous scores, goals and match statistics remain useful long after the final whistle. For newer fixtures, scores and standings, SportPesa Score provides the next step.

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