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

Explore our detailed preview for Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United in the Premier League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 20:00 BST match.

Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Date: Tuesday 1 April 2025
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: The City Ground

The match at the City Ground promises to be a closely contested affair, with both teams looking to assert themselves. Nottingham Forest's recent home form and their ability to upset top teams could give them an edge, especially with United's injury concerns.

Expect Forest to adopt a compact defensive shape, looking to hit United on the counter. United, on the other hand, will need to be patient and clinical in their approach, relying on Bruno Fernandes to unlock the home side's defence.

The home advantage and United's injury-hit squad could tilt the scales in favour of Forest, who might just edge out a narrow victory in a tightly fought contest.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Manchester United

Nottingham Forest have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent outings, which is in contrast to their excellent season.

Forest's form has been characterised by strong home performances, particularly their recent victory against Manchester City, which showcased their defensive solidity and ability to capitalise on counter-attacks. However, their away form remains a concern, as evidenced by the losses to Newcastle and Fulham.

Last 5 league matches:

• Win: 4-2 vs Ipswich (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Man City (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Arsenal (H)
• Loss: 3-4 vs Newcastle (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Fulham (A)
  

Manchester United have been struggling to find consistency, with their recent form showing a mix of results.

United's performances have been bolstered by moments of individual brilliance, particularly from Bruno Fernandes, but their overall team cohesion has been lacking. The draw against Arsenal and the win over Leicester highlight their potential, but the loss to Spurs underscores their ongoing challenges.

Last 5 league matches:

• Win: 3-0 vs Leicester (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Arsenal (H)
• Win: 3-2 vs Ipswich (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Everton (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Spurs (A)
  

The historical rivalry between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United has produced some thrilling encounters.

Notably, Forest have had the upper hand in recent meetings, securing two victories in their last three encounters against United. This trend suggests that Forest could pose a significant challenge to United at the City Ground.

• Man Utd 2-3 Nott'm Forest (07 December 2024)
• Nott'm Forest 2-1 Man Utd (30 December 2023)
• Man Utd 3-2 Nott'm Forest (26 August 2023)
• Nott'm Forest 0-2 Man Utd (16 April 2023)
• Man Utd 3-0 Nott'm Forest (27 December 2022)
  

• Chris Wood - Knock (doubtful)

Forest's injury concerns are less severe than their visitors', but the potential absence of Chris Wood could affect their attacking options.

• Luke Shaw - Knock
• Jonny Evans - Muscle
• Tom Heaton - Knock
• Altay Bayindir - Knock
• Lisandro Martinez - Knee
• Amad - Ankle
• Kobbie Mainoo - Knock
• Harry Maguire - Knock (Doubtful)
• Leny Yoro - Foot (Doubtful)
• Ayden Heaven - Leg (Doubtful)

The extensive injury list for Manchester United could significantly impact their performance, particularly in defence and midfield, where key players are sidelined.

Sels; Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina, Williams; Domínguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi

Forest are likely to maintain their 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on a solid defensive structure while utilising the pace and creativity of Elanga and Hudson-Odoi on the wings.

Onana; Lindelöf, de Ligt, Dalot; Mazraoui, Fernandes, Ugarte, Garnacho; Eriksen, Zirkzee; Højlund

United may opt for a 3-4-2-1 formation to compensate for their injury-hit squad, relying on Fernandes to orchestrate play from midfield and the young talents of Højlund and Garnacho to provide the attacking threat.

• Morgan Gibbs-White vs Bruno Fernandes: The midfield battle between these two creative forces will be crucial. Gibbs-White's ability to control the tempo for Forest will be tested against Fernandes' playmaking and goal-scoring prowess for United.
• Anthony Elanga vs Diogo Dalot: Elanga's pace and directness on the wing could exploit any weaknesses in United's defence, particularly if Dalot is tasked with containing him.
• Nikola Milenkovic vs Rasmus Højlund: Milenkovic's defensive solidity will be key in neutralising Højlund, who has shown flashes of brilliance but needs to be more consistent.
  

Nottingham Forest have won the last two Premier League matches against Manchester United, a stark contrast to their historical record against the Red Devils. This resurgence highlights the unpredictable nature of football and the potential for any team to rise to the occasion.

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