1 week Ago By Aryan Jolly, Last Word On Sports
This is the predicted lineup for Manchester City’s FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest. The match sees the two highest-ranked teams left in England’s main cup competition face off against each other with a place in the final at stake. City are in good form heading into the game, having not lost since early March, whilst Forest have lost two of their last five games.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup vs Nottingham Forest in FA Cup Clash How Manchester City Have Lined Up Recently Stefan Ortega Moreno has started the last two games in goal thanks to an injury to Ederson. Pep Guardiola’s constant rotation of the two shot-stoppers has seen them play two games each in the FA Cup. The Catalan named the defensive quartet that has played the most minutes since the March international break against Aston Villa.
It comprised of Matheus Nunes, who scored City’s 93rd-minute winner in midweek, at right-back and breakout star Nico O’Reilly at left-back. The central defensive pairing was made up of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, who gave away the penalty which led to Villa equalising on Tuesday. Matteo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva played in midfield against the Villans.
The Portuguese moved into the centre to take the place of Nico Gonzalez. James McAtee made just his second league start for City on the right wing whilst Omar Marmoush manned the opposite flank. Club captain Kevin De Bruyne started his fourth game in a row for the Citizens as a false nine.
Manchester City’s Recent Form and Tactics City may not have been at their free-flowing best this season, but Guardiola and his men have found a way to adapt and get results in recent weeks. The Sky Blues have won five of their six games since the international break despite the absence of key players like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rodri. The key to this has been regaining defensive solidity and consistency.
O’Reilly, Dias, Gvardiol and Nunes have played the vast majority of minutes in recent weeks and they are still yet to concede a goal from open play. Another reason for this improvement in performance has been the extra control which the likes of Kovacic, Gundogan and Silva have offered in midfield which has meant that City have been less vulnerable in transition. But, this has meant that minutes for City’s explosive wing pairing of Jeremy Doku and Savinho have been more limited, even though both of them have been impressive when they have played.
Manchester City Injuries to Consider Manuel Akanji and Foden were both named on the bench against Villa. The Swiss defender made another short appearance off the bench as City looked to see the game out, though Foden still has not played a minute since the Manchester Derby. Guardiola offered injury updates on five key players in his pre-match news conference.
Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson has been eased back into light training in recent days, but the Catalan was unsure if the 31-year-old would be ready to face Forest. There was positive news around Haaland as the Norwegian is training individually after suffering an ankle injury in City’s last FA Cup game against Bournemouth. Unfortunately, there was bad news on the injury front for his compatriot Oscar Bobb.
It was his international manager, Stale Solbakken, who revealed that the winger had picked up another minor injury . John Stones, Nathan Ake and Rodri will all miss the trip to Wembley. Manchester City Predicted Lineup GK: Stefan Ortega Moreno RB: Matheus Nunes CB: Ruben Dias CB: Josko Gvardiol LB: Nico O’Reilly DM: Nico Gonzalez CM: Bernardo Silva CM: Matteo Kovacic RW: Phil Foden LW: Omar Marmoush CF: Kevin De Bruyne This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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