Manchester City Team News: Confirmed XI at Nottingham Forest 2026

Key Points

• Manchester City and Nottingham Forest have revealed their starting line-ups for their upcoming game in the English Premier League at The City Ground on November 7, 2026.
• Manager of Manchester City, Enzo Maresca has made three changes to the team that won against RB Leipzig in the Champions League mid-week.
• Joško Gvardiol, Rúben Dias and Jérémy Doku are included in the starting eleven in place of Matheus Nunes, Nico O’Reilly and Phil Foden respectively.
• Marc Guéhi retains his place in central defence after missing the last league fixture.
• Gianluigi Donnarumma gets the nod in between the sticks and Erling Haaland spearheads the attack.
• Sean Dyche makes Ryan Yates his first starter of the season in the league fixture for Forest.
• James McAtee plays alongside Liam Delap and Morgan Gibbs-White in central midfield for Forest.
• Man City will be without Antoine Semenyo owing to a knee injury.
• Nico O’Reilly, Phil Foden and Matheus Nunes are among the substitutes on the bench of Enzo Maresca.
• The game will kick off at 17:30 UK Time.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) November 07, 2026 — Manchester City have confirmed their starting line-up for their Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest at The City Ground, with manager Enzo Maresca making three changes to the side that defeated RB Leipzig in the Champions League earlier this week.

As reported by Manchester City’s official website, City begin with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal behind a back four of Abdukodir Khusanov, captain Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi and Joško Gvardiol. Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández are named in central midfield, while Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Jérémy Doku support Erling Haaland in attack.

Manchester City’s confirmed starting XI is: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias (captain), Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernández; Ndiaye, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

Which players has Maresca brought back into the side?

Maresca has restored three players to the starting XI after City’s Champions League victory over RB Leipzig. As reported by the BBC, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol and Jérémy Doku replace Matheus Nunes, Nico O’Reilly and Phil Foden respectively.

Dias returns at centre-back and captains the side, while Gvardiol comes in at left-back. Doku returns on the left of City’s attacking line, with Cherki retained in the number 10 role and Ndiaye starting on the right.

Marc Guéhi keeps his place in the heart of defence. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Guéhi has been given the opportunity to play through recent difficulties, with his selection for the England squad described as a possible boost to his confidence.

Why are O’Reilly, Foden and Nunes on the bench?

Nico O’Reilly, Phil Foden and Matheus Nunes have all been named among Manchester City’s substitutes. Maresca’s changes mean O’Reilly makes way for Gvardiol at left-back, Foden is replaced by Doku, and Nunes is omitted from the starting side as Dias returns to central defence.

City’s substitutes are Rulli, Kovačić, Reis, Nunes, Bouaddi, O’Reilly, Allan Elias, Foden and Lewis.

O’Reilly’s omission follows Maresca’s pre-match comments that the international break would offer the defender an opportunity to rest and recover. As reported by Manchester City’s official website, the manager said the break would allow O’Reilly to “rest and recuperate”.

What is Nottingham Forest’s confirmed starting XI?

Nottingham Forest have also confirmed their line-up, with Ryan Yates handed his first league start of the season. As reported by Sports Mole, Yates comes into the side alongside Xaver Schlager in midfield, while Liam Delap continues as the central striker.

Forest’s confirmed starting XI is: Sels; Cunha, Milenković, Murillo; Muñoz, Schlager, Yates, McAtee, Williams; Gibbs-White; Delap.

Matz Sels starts in goal, with Jair Cunha, Nikola Milenković and Murillo forming the back three. Daniel Muñoz and Neco Williams operate as wing-backs, while Morgan Gibbs-White and James McAtee provide support to Delap in attack.

Forest’s substitutes are John Victor, Diomande, Sangaré, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, Igor Jesus, Ndoye, Kalimuendo and Netz.

How are both teams expected to line up?

Manchester City are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. As reported by Manchester City’s official website, Donnarumma starts in goal, Khusanov is at right-back and Gvardiol is at left-back, with Anderson and Fernández in the double pivot.

Nottingham Forest are expected to use a 3-4-2-1 system. Their back three comprises Cunha, Milenković and Murillo, while Muñoz and Williams provide width; Gibbs-White and McAtee operate behind Delap.

What has Maresca said before the match?

Enzo Maresca said before the fixture that he expected a difficult assignment against Nottingham Forest. As reported by Manchester City’s official website, the City manager said he had “no doubts” that Saturday’s Premier League clash would be another difficult test.

Maresca’s comments came ahead of City’s trip to The City Ground, where Forest were preparing to host the reigning Premier League side in a 17:30 UK kick-off.

Who is unavailable for Manchester City?

Antoine Semenyo remains unavailable for selection for Manchester City because of a knee injury. As reported by Esteemed Kompany, Semenyo’s absence means Doku is selected on the left side of City’s attacking line.

The Evening Standard also reported that Semenyo is expected to be out until December with the knee injury, explaining why Doku was favoured for the left-wing role.

Background of the development

Manchester City entered the fixture following a Champions League win over RB Leipzig earlier in the week. Maresca’s decision to make three changes reflects a balance between managing player workload and maintaining continuity in a side that had recently secured a European victory.

The return of Dias and Gvardiol strengthens City’s defensive options, while Doku’s inclusion gives the attack a direct wide presence. Guéhi’s continued selection is notable because he had been left out of the previous Premier League match, according to the BBC’s match coverage.

For Nottingham Forest, Yates’s first league start of the season represents a significant selection call. His inclusion alongside Schlager gives Forest a more physical midfield platform, while Delap continues to lead the line after being selected in the club’s recent predicted line-ups.

Prediction: How can this development affect fans?

For Manchester City supporters, the confirmed line-up suggests that Maresca is prioritising defensive experience and attacking width for a demanding away fixture. The returns of Dias, Gvardiol and Doku could improve City’s balance, while Haaland’s presence up front gives the visitors a clear focal point in attack.

For Nottingham Forest fans, Yates’s start may signal a more combative approach in midfield as the club seeks to contain City’s creative players. Forest’s back three and wing-back system could be important in limiting space for Ndiaye, Cherki and Doku, while Delap’s role will be central to any counter-attacking threat.

For neutral viewers, the confirmed teams indicate a tactical contest between City’s 4-2-3-1 structure and Forest’s 3-4-2-1 shape. The outcome may depend on whether Forest’s midfield can disrupt Anderson and Fernández, and whether City’s returning defenders can contain Gibbs-White, McAtee and Delap.