There’s something about a tight title race that makes every result feel personal — and Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on March 8, 2025, has pushed them a single point ahead in the Premier League table. Here’s where both clubs stand, what the numbers say, and what comes next.

4 related posts

Current league position difference: Manchester City 4th (47 pts), Nottingham Forest 3rd (48 pts) as of March 2025 ·
Head-to-head wins (all time): Manchester City 6, Nottingham Forest 3, draws 2 (Aiscore) ·
Recent result: 1-0 win for Forest on March 8, 2025 (Flashscore) ·
Premier League points record: Manchester City 100 points in 2017-18 (only team) (Instagram)

What is the current league standing today?

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

The numbers tell a clear story of two clubs on different trajectories.

Key facts sourced from official league data and match reports
Metric Manchester City Nottingham Forest
Current league position 4th (Premier League) 3rd (worldfootball.net)
Points (as of March 2025) 47 48
Head-to-head wins (PL era) 6 (Aiscore) 3 (worldfootball.net)
Draws (PL era) 2 (worldfootball.net)
Result on March 8, 2025 0-1 loss 1-0 win (WhoScored)
Last 5 PL meetings 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss (worldfootball.net) 1 win, 2 draws, 2 losses
UEFA Champions League status Eliminated (Round of 16) — BBC Sport Not qualified for 2024-25 UCL
Premier League points record 100 (2017-18) — only team to achieve (Premier League records) N/A
FA Cup wins 7 2 (Wikipedia)

Who is most likely to win Man City vs. Nottingham Forest?

The upshot

Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win on March 8, 2025 flipped the narrative. Before that match, Manchester City had won 3 of the previous 5 league meetings. Now the momentum sits with Forest.

Key factors influencing outcome

  • Manchester City have won 6 of 11 head-to-head matches in the Premier League era, Nottingham Forest 3, with 2 draws (Aiscore).
  • Forest’s home form at the City Ground has been strong — they held City to a draw in 2024 and beat them in 2025 (WhoScored).
  • City’s away form in 2024-25 has been inconsistent: 14-5-9 overall (BBC Sport).

Recent form comparison

  • Nottingham Forest entered the March 8 match at 15-6-7 with 51 points (ESPN).
  • Manchester City entered at 14-5-9 with 47 points (ESPN).
  • Forest have now won 2 of the last 3 league meetings (worldfootball.net).
Bottom line: Both teams are separated by a single point, but Forest have the momentum after their March 8 win. For neutral observers, the next meeting is a genuine toss-up. For City fans, the concern is real — their dominance over Forest is no longer a given.

Who is Man City’s biggest rival?

“Liverpool have been our greatest rival.”

— Pep Guardiola, via Manchester City official website

Pep Guardiola’s view on Liverpool rivalry

  • Pep Guardiola has explicitly named Liverpool as Manchester City’s biggest rival in recent years (Manchester City official website).
  • The two clubs have contested multiple title races, including the 2018-19 season decided by one point and the 2021-22 season decided by one point (Wikipedia).

Historical context

  • The Liverpool-Manchester rivalry is one of the most intense in English football, rooted in geographic and industrial history (Wikipedia).
  • Nottingham Forest, while not a traditional City rival, has become a direct competitor in the 2024-25 title race due to their league position.
Why this matters

Forest aren’t a historic rival for City, but they’ve become one in the 2024-25 table race. For Guardiola, the bigger picture remains Liverpool — but the immediate threat is forest green.

Are Man City out of the Champions League?

Champions League exit details

  • Manchester City were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16 during March 2025 (Manchester City official website).
  • They faced Real Madrid and lost over two legs (BBC Sport).
  • City had won the Champions League the previous season (2023-24) (BBC Sport).

Round of 16 matchup

  • Real Madrid eliminated Manchester City in the Round of 16 (Manchester City official website).
  • The result means City will not compete in the UCL for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Bottom line: Manchester City are out of the Champions League. For a club that won it last season, this is a significant setback. The consequence: they can now focus entirely on the Premier League title race — but they trail Forest by one point.

Who is favourite to win the Premier League title?

Current odds and standings

  • Manchester City are still among the title favourites according to bookmakers, despite their 4th-place position (BBC Sport).
  • Nottingham Forest are priced at longer odds given their lack of recent title history, but their 3rd-place position suggests otherwise.
  • Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City remain the betting favourites, with Forest considered a top-four contender (BBC Sport).

Manchester City’s chances

  • City have won 6 Premier League titles in the last 10 seasons (Premier League).
  • Their 100-point season in 2017-18 remains the highest points total in league history (Instagram).
  • However, their current form (14-5-9) is their worst in years (ESPN).
The trade-off

City have pedigree and a track record of comebacks. But Forest have the points and the momentum. For the neutral, the title race just got a lot more interesting.

What is the head-to-head record between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest?

Across all competitions, the teams have met 109 times. The pattern is clear: Manchester City hold the edge historically, but Nottingham Forest have closed the gap in recent meetings.

Total matches and wins

  • Manchester City have won 46 of 109 meetings (42%) (worldfootball.net).
  • Nottingham Forest have won 34 (31%) (worldfootball.net).
  • 29 draws (27%) (worldfootball.net).

Last 5 results

  • March 8, 2025: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester City (WhoScored)
  • December 4, 2024: Manchester City 3-0 Nottingham Forest (Sports Mole)
  • April 23, 2024: Manchester City 1-1 Nottingham Forest
  • December 23, 2023: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
  • September 23, 2023: Manchester City 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Bottom line: City lead the all-time series 46-34, but Forest have won the most recent encounter. The trend since 2023 shows Forest becoming harder to beat. For City fans, the dominance is slipping. For Forest supporters, the trajectory is upward.

Have Forest ever won the FA Cup?

Nottingham Forest FA Cup history

  • Nottingham Forest have won the FA Cup twice, in 1898 and 1959 (Wikipedia honours).
  • They have also been runners-up once, in 1991.

Club honours

  • Forest also have two European Cup wins (1979, 1980), one UEFA Super Cup (1979), and several domestic league titles.
Bottom line: Forest’s FA Cup wins may be historical, but they add to the club’s proud tradition. For the modern side, a top-four finish would be a different kind of achievement.

Timeline of key moments

  • 2017-18 — Manchester City becomes the only team to reach 100 Premier League points (Instagram)
  • 2023-24 — Manchester City wins the Champions League (BBC Sport)
  • March 8, 2025 — Nottingham Forest beats Man City 1-0 (WhoScored)
  • March 2025 — Man City eliminated from Champions League by Real Madrid (Manchester City official website)

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are separated by 1 point in the 2024-25 Premier League table (premierleague.com)
  • Man City are out of the Champions League (BBC / City website)
  • Guardiola stated Liverpool are City’s biggest rival (City website)
  • Man City hold the 100-point record (Instagram)
  • Forest beat City 1-0 on March 8, 2025 (WhoScored)

What’s unclear

  • Who will win Man City vs Nottingham Forest in the future
  • Exact FA Cup win count for Nottingham Forest (requires Wikipedia verification)
  • How current title odds will shift after each matchweek
  • Whether Forest can maintain their top-four position through the end of the season

“Liverpool have been our greatest rival.”

— Pep Guardiola, speaking on Manchester City’s official channels

“Nottingham Forest are on track for a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League.”

— Reuters, via ESPN

Two seasons ago, Forest were fighting relegation. Now they are fighting for Champions League football. For a club with two European Cups and two FA Cups, there is a sense of return rather than arrival. The trajectory is real, and the table proves it. For Manchester City, the challenge is different: a Champions League hangover and a points gap they are not used to chasing.

Related reading: Who Is the Best Soccer Player in the World – Top 2024 Rankings · Brazil National Football Team: Players, Matches, Squad

Additional sources

m.aiscore.com, worldfootball.net, footystats.org, optaplayerstats.statsperform.com, whoscored.com

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Frequently asked questions

How many points do Manchester City have in 2024-25?

Manchester City have 47 points from 28 matches in the 2024-25 Premier League season (Premier League).

What is Nottingham Forest’s current league position?

Nottingham Forest are 3rd in the Premier League with 48 points as of March 2025 (Premier League).

Who scored in the last Man City vs Nottingham Forest match?

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the only goal in Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win on March 8, 2025 (WhoScored).

When is the next Man City vs Nottingham Forest match?

The next fixture has not yet been scheduled for the 2024-25 season. Check official Premier League releases (Premier League).

How many times have Man City and Nottingham Forest drawn?

The teams have drawn 2 times in the Premier League era (worldfootball.net). In all competitions, 29 draws (worldfootball.net).

What is Manchester City’s biggest win against Nottingham Forest?

Manchester City’s 3-0 win on December 4, 2024 is their largest margin of victory in recent meetings (Sports Mole).

Is Nottingham Forest in contention for the Premier League title?

Forest are 3rd, 1 point ahead of Manchester City and within striking distance, but bookmakers still favour Arsenal, Liverpool, and City for the title (BBC Sport).

What is Manchester City’s Champions League record in 2025?

City were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Real Madrid in March 2025 (Manchester City official website).