An in-depth have a look at our opponents this Wednesday…
We welcome Nottingham Forest to the Etihad Stadium in a 19:30 (UK) begin on 4 March.
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We’ll be seeking to keep stress on Premier League leaders Arsenal, who we’re 5 factors again from with a sport in hand.
After a 2-1 victory on the Metropolis Floor in late December, we’re on the lookout for a double over the relegation threatened facet.
Right here we discover out a bit extra about our opponents…
Current kind
Forest sit seventeenth within the Premier League with 27 factors from 28 video games.
That leaves them two factors away from 18th positioned West Ham and due to this fact effectively conscious of the specter of relegation.
Their final Premier League victory got here six video games in the past, with a 2-0 success at Brentford in late January.
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Since then, they’ve drawn twice and misplaced three video games.
Most well-liked lineup
Forest are likely to favour a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a reasonably settled XI within the Premier League regardless of their troublesome kind.
Former Metropolis man Stefan Ortega Moreno has been first selection in aim since his January transfer, however missed the weekend journey to Brighton via harm so may very well be a doubt for this one.
The again 4 stays constant, with Neco Williams, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Ola Aina undoubtedly first selection.
Forward of them, Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare are the holdings midfielders, whereas captain Morgan Gibbs-White has license to get ahead within the No.10 function.
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Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson are the 2 first names within the broad roles, whereas Igor Jesus had been most definitely to begin up entrance in Chris Wooden’s absence.
Supervisor
Vitor Pereira is Forest’s fourth supervisor of the season, arriving on 15 February.
Since then, he’s suffered a 1-0 house defeat to Liverpool and 2-1 loss at Brighton however he has discovered success in a two-legged Europa League play-off in opposition to Fenerbahce.
Pereira might be most recognisable to English soccer followers for his 32 video games accountable for Wolves, maintaining them up final season earlier than leaving in November after a disastrous begin to their marketing campaign.
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The 57-year-old Portuguese is well-known for brief stints with golf equipment, having now had 15 managerial jobs throughout three continents within the final 22 years.
Head-to-head
We now have received 4 of our final 5 Premier League matches in opposition to Nottingham Forest, profitable 2-1 earlier this season on the Metropolis Floor.
Since returning to the Premier League in 2022/23, Nottingham Forest have misplaced all three of their away Premier League video games in opposition to Metropolis with out scoring, conceding 11 occasions.
They’re winless in eight away top-flight visits to us since a 3-0 win in November 1989.
How they assault
Solely Wolves have scored fewer than Forest’s 26 targets to date. Nonetheless, that’s from an xG of 32.5 – which suggests they’re not taking as many probabilities as they need to.
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Whereas they’ve not been afraid to shoot (364 photographs is the eighth most within the league) – their conversion price is the worst within the division.
No facet has despatched extra crosses into the field from open play than Forest, averaging 18.5 per match.
They’re firmly mid desk for headed targets and quick breaks, however they’re able to scoring from anyplace on the pitch with their 14 totally different goalscorers the fourth most within the league.
Gibbs-White is their high scorer with seven, forward of Callum Hudson-Odoi on three and a bunch of names on two.
How they defend
Having let in 41 targets from 28 video games, Forest’s defence is best than the remainder of the edges round them within the relegation scrap.
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Matz Sels, who might play if Stefan Ortega Moreno is unavailable, is tenth when it comes to all goalkeepers throughout the Premier League for save proportion, stopping 67.4% of photographs on his aim.
And with solely 5 headed targets conceded, they’re a high half facet on the subject of defending aerially.
Nonetheless, with 13 targets conceded within the final quarter-hour, they have an inclination to finish video games poorly.
With solely 40 yellow playing cards to date, there are solely two Premier League sides who’ve a greater disciplinary document than them.
Be at Metropolis v Nottingham Forest!
We welcome Forest to the Etihad Stadium at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 4 March.
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And you’ll be there to see it as Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis proceed to chase Premier League glory.
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