Nottingham Forest-Manchester United is an FA Cup fifth-round match and is played Wednesday at 8:45 p.m.: statistics, likely lineups, predictions, live TV and streaming.
Saturday’s defeat to Fulham (1-2) at Old Trafford stirred old ghosts at Manchester United, which prior to the match with the Cottagers was unbeaten for seven consecutive games, between the league and various cups. The Red Devils squandered a colossal opportunity because in case of victory they would have moved just one point away from fifth place – a position that from this year could mean Champions League – occupied by Tottenham (which, however, still has to recover a game).
In a season in which the chances of making their way in Europe have already vanished – United exited after the group stage in the Champions League, even finishing last – it makes sense that the FA Cup becomes the only way not to run out of titles, and that is why the team of the much disputed Erik ten Hag will not snub the round of 16 with Nottingham Forest. A match, the one at the City Ground, however, that comes just a few days after the long-awaited derby with Manchester City, which will be followed by three matches within reach against Everton, Sheffield United and Brentford. Ten Hag has no choice: he will rest many starters, counting on his colleague Nuno Espirito Santo to do the same.
Ten Hag, in the cup you can’t fail
Forest, in fact, is not doing so well: after the success over West Ham, the Tricky Trees went back to losing, collecting their third defeat in the last five days.
At home to Aston Villa, the reaction of the team coached by the Portuguese coach was late (4-2), with Awoniyi and his teammates failing to avoid the fourteenth knockout of the season, confirming the disastrous away performance (only 9 points won by the Reds away from the City Ground). The red zone remains four points away, but third-last-place Luton have one match less. Espirito Santo in the cup match will have to do without Wood, Sangaré, Boly, Ola Aina and Nuno Tavares. Ten Hag, on the other hand, will definitely not be able to count on former Atalantino Hojlund, who is injured.
The prediction
Nottingham Forest has already beaten Manchester United this season, ending a 20-year fast against the Red Devils. This time, too, there is every likelihood of seeing a balanced match, in which both will most likely score. United favored for qualification.
The probable lineups of Nottingham Forest-Manchester United
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Sels; Montiel, Felipe, Murillo, Niakhaté; Danilo, Dominguez; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Origi.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Kambwala, Evans, Lindelof; McTominay, Mainoo; Forson, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
