Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City Betting Odds and Free Pick

Last Updated on December 23, 2025 10:14 am by Erwin Noguera

Matchday 18 of the Premier League will feature a clash of extremes, with a relegation-battling Nottingham Forest taking on a title-chasing Manchester City.

Nottingham Forest is in a very difficult situation and is coming off a 1–0 loss to a direct rival, Fulham.

Manchester City, meanwhile, had no trouble dispatching West Ham with a 3–0 victory in a dominant afternoon led by Erling Haaland.

At Gambyl Exchange, you can explore all the predictions for the Premier League, the final bets for this matchday, and the odds for each match.

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City Betting Odds and Info

Why Bet on Nottingham Forest?

Nottingham Forest have gone from fighting for European places and even the title last season to battling for survival this time around. With 18 points, they sit 17th, the final position that avoids relegation. However, 18th-placed West Ham is five points behind, meaning that regardless of what happens this weekend, Forest will not drop into the relegation zone.

They are coming off a 1–0 loss to Fulham after a penalty goal by Raúl Jiménez in the final play of the first half, and have now gone six matches alternating between a win and a loss.

Forest have been poor at home, with three wins, one draw, and four defeats. Overall, this season, they have recorded five wins, three draws, and nine losses, scoring 17 goals and conceding 26. That defensive figure is not especially bad, highlighting that their main issue lies in attack—largely because their top scorer, Chris Wood, has been injured and has not played since October 18.

In addition to the New Zealand striker, Ola Aina and Ryan Yates are also sidelined through injury, while Ibrahim Sangaré and Willy Boly are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Why Bet on Manchester City?

Manchester City are once again in the title race. With 37 points, they sit second in the table, just two behind Arsenal. They have recorded 12 wins, one draw, and four losses, boasting the league’s best attack with 41 goals scored and the second-best defense with just 16 conceded.

They are coming off a 3–0 win over West Ham and have now won seven straight matches across all competitions, keeping clean sheets in their last three games. Among those victories, the standout result was a 1-2 away win over Real Madrid in Spain in the Champions League.

Against the ‘Hammers’, Erling Haaland was the star, scoring two goals and providing one assist. The Norwegian striker leads the league with 19 goals, eight more than the second-highest scorer. Over City’s last two Premier League matches, he has registered four goals and one assist, during a stretch in which the team scored six goals.

It is also worth highlighting the form of Rayan Cherki, who has become increasingly integrated into the team and is proving to be a hugely important player, as well as Tijjani Reijnders, both of whom have been standout performers.

On the injury front for Pep Guardiola, Manchester City will be without Mateo Kovačić, John Stones, Jérémy Doku, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Final Betting Analysis: Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City

It could be described as an uneven battle based on the standings and the quality of the squads. The reality is that Manchester City are playing very well and have a dominant Erling Haaland, while Nottingham Forest have shown very little going forward. The victory should go to the visitors.

The numbers at Gambyl Exchange list Manchester City as the favorites, with a Moneyline of -165, while Nottingham Forest are priced at +450 and the draw at +333.

The last time these teams met was on April 27 of this year in the FA Cup, when City won 0-2 away from home. In league play, they last faced each other on March 8, 2025, with Forest winning 1–0 at home.

Go for a win for Manchester City. If you bet $100 at -165, you will gain $61 for a total payout of $161.

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City Betting Pick: Manchester City