Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Prediction: KDB can shine in City win

Nottingham Forest will play their first FA Cup semi-final since 1991 when they walk out at Wembley to face Manchester City at 16:30 on Sunday.

Football Odds

The Tricky Trees have enjoyed an amazing season and beat Tottenham 2-1 on Monday to continue their push for a Champions League spot.

City leapfrogged them by beating Aston Villa 2-1 on Tuesday and now sit third on 61 points, a place and a point clear of Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

It was another close call for the Citizens, but they are now unbeaten in seven in all competitions since losing 1-0 at the City Ground on March 8th.

After a relatively poor season, Pep Guardiola says Champions League qualification is the “biggest thing” but that it would be “good” to make up for last year’s FA Cup final defeat, especially with Kevin De Bruyne set to depart.

Match odds, Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City

Forest are 18/5 to win on Sunday, with the draw 3/1 and City available at 8/11.

The Tricky Trees won 1-0 when these two met at the City Ground in March, and a repeat case of under 2.5 goals is priced at 1/1.

Team news

Forest’s Ryan Yates and Neco Williams are suspended and Ola Aina is a doubt due to a calf problem.

Guardiola says he is unsure if Ederson will be available, with Stefan Ortega again ready to deputise in the City goal.

Rodri and Erling Haaland are also back in training, but the Citizens boss says the club hasn’t set a return date on their potential returns.

Manchester City to win to nil @ 15/8

Forest won last month’s home meeting 1-0 and their success this season has been built on keeping things tight and striking on the break, as evidenced by becoming the first team to reach this stage by winning three penalty shootouts.

They lost the shot count 14-9 and only had 30% possession in that March victory, but City won the reverse match 3-0.

In fact, five of the six meetings since Forest were promoted back to the Premier League in 2022 have ended in a ‘no’ for Both Teams to Score.

It is a huge occasion for both clubs, but one the City players are used to and they are unlikely to be fazed by Forest allowing them to have the lion’s share of the ball.

Kevin De Bruyne to assist a goal @ 2/1

Guardiola namechecked De Bruyne in Friday’s press conference and the Belgian has made no secret of his opinion that the club are making a mistake by allowing him to leave.

De Bruyne assisted Bernardo Silva’s opener when his side won 3-0 at the Etihad in December and will be doing all he can to win a third FA Cup.

The 33-year-old will see it as a personal challenge to try and thread the ball through Forest’s well-drilled backline and he can be expected to turn up on the big occasion.

Football Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.