Nottingham Forest and Manchester United will be eager to continue their unbeaten runs when they face off at the City Ground on Tuesday.
The 2024/25 Premier League season resumes for the first time since the international break ended, with Gameweek 30 kicking off on Tuesday. The action on the day will start with two simultaneous matches before ending with Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United at the City Ground.
The Nottingham Forest juggernaut continues to roll on, with the latest memorable result coming in the FA Cup. The Tricky Trees have reached the FA Cup semi-finals after beating Brighton & Hove Albion, stretching their unbeaten run to five games. With fifth-placed Manchester City six points behind, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will remain in the top four until the weekend, irrespective of what happens on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Manchester United got an extended break over the weekend as they were not in the FA Cup. The Red Devils were on song heading into the international break, even though they have significant room for improvement. Nevertheless, Ruben Amorim’s men are on a promising unbeaten run, not losing in regulation time in seven games.
The reverse fixture saw Nottingham Forest eke a 1-0 win over Manchester United, with Chris Wood scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo has a new injury concern that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Nottingham Forest manager might be bereft of the services of two first-team players vs Manchester United on Tuesday.
The Portuguese tactician is sweating over Morgan Gibbs-White’s fitness after he picked up a knock in the FA Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. In addition, Chris Wood faces a late fitness test to determine his availability amid his recovery from a hip injury.
Matz Sels will take his spot between the sticks between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Tuesday. The backline should feature Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Neco Williams.
As for the midfield unit, Nicolas Dominguez and Elliot Anderson should pair up in the double pivot. Finally, Gibbs-White should be fit enough to reprise the No. 10 role, with Jota Silva, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Anthony Elanga playing around him. So, Wood will be a backup option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Jota, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Elanga
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Nottingham Forest dugout, Ruben Amorim has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to the City Ground. The Manchester United manager will be without six first-team players on Tuesday.
Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro are fit and available, while Altay Bayindir requires a late fitness to determine his availability. In addition, Patrick Dorgu has served his three-match suspension. So, Lisandro Martinez (knee), Luke Shaw (calf), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Jonny Evans (lower back), Kobbie Mainoo (muscle), and Amad Diallo (ankle) are the only players on the sidelines.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. The central defensive unit should feature Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, and Leny Yoro. Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu will likely start as the two wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes should pair up in the central areas, with Mason Mount being a backup option on the bench. Finally, Alejandro Garnacho will join Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; de Ligt, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Nottingham Forest will aim to complete a league double over Manchester United for the first time since the 1991/92 campaign under Brian Clough. The Tricky Trees are looking to win consecutive home league games against the Red Devils for the first time since the 1988/89 and 1989/90 seasons, having ended a run of seven games without a victory at the City Ground last season.
- Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions. The Tricky Trees have 54 points; only four teams have reached that tally after 29 Premier League games and failed to finish in the top five.
- Manchester United will aim to clinch successive Premier League wins for the first time this season and to stretch their unbeaten run to five top-flight matches. They are one of only three sides yet to win successive top-flight fixtures this season, along with Ipswich Town and Southampton. The Red Devils are also aiming to record consecutive away league victories for the first time since winning three in a row in February last year.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their six most recent league games immediately after an international break (W4 D2). On the other hand, Nottingham Forest have gone 1-0 up in a league-high 22 matches this season. However, they have lost five of the six league games in which they conceded first this term.
- Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last eight home league fixtures, winning six and drawing two. It is as many wins as they had managed in their previous 24 attempts at the City Ground.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
While Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga, and Rasmus Hojlund were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bruno Fernandes as our Player to Watch for Tuesday’s Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground.
The Portuguese international has scored three goals and assisted three in his last four Premier League appearances. In addition, the 30-year-old has pulled Manchester United to crucial victories in other competitions, including the UEFA Europa League round of 16 against Real Sociedad. Expect the Manchester United captain to be at his best again this weekend.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Manchester United
Nottingham Forest’s home form suggests the hosts should continue their excellent run. However, Manchester United will not go down without a fight as Ruben Amorim continues moulding the team in his image.
Bruno Fernandes will inspire another positive result for the away side, while Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood will rise to the occasion for Nottingham Forest. Ultimately, there might not be much to separate the two teams, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw for Tuesday’s Premier League clash.
