Manchester United vs Forest preview, prediction, h2h: Aina, Awoniyi face Bruno’s record chase

Manchester United welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford for their final home game of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with both clubs having already achieved their primary objectives for the campaign, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Red Devils sit third in the table on 65 points, six clear of both Liverpool and Aston Villa, and have already secured Champions League qualification following last weekend’s drama-filled 3-2 victory over Liverpool.

Forest, meanwhile, are 16th on 43 points and confirmed their Premier League survival after Elliot Anderson’s late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United last time out.

That said, the stakes on an individual level could hardly be higher, with Bruno Fernandes chasing a place in the all-time Premier League record books and Casemiro set to say farewell to Old Trafford in what will be his final home appearance as a Manchester United player.

Match preview

Michael Carrick’s tenure as interim head coach has been nothing short of remarkable since he replaced Ruben Amorim in mid-January.

The 44-year-old has accumulated 33 points in 15 Premier League matches, a haul that has been the best in the entire division over that period, lifting United from seventh to third in the space of four months.

Seven wins from eight home games under Carrick tell their own story, and his side have shown the kind of resolve that was sorely lacking during the final weeks of Amorim’s time in charge.

That win over Liverpool earlier this month, where Kobbie Mainoo scored a stunning winner after the visitors had clawed their way back from two goals down, felt like the defining moment of United’s season.

The goalless draw at Sunderland last weekend was considerably less inspiring, though, with Manchester United managing just one shot on target, and Carrick may look to inject more energy into the side here.

Forest’s campaign has been defined by turmoil off the pitch but resilience on it.

Vitor Pereira became their fourth head coach of the season when he was appointed in February, following the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche.

Yet the Portuguese has worked wonders, steering Forest clear of the drop zone and to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they were beaten 4-1 on aggregate by Aston Villa.

In the Premier League, Forest’s recent form has been excellent, winning three of their last five league matches, including a stunning 5-0 demolition of Sunderland and a 3-1 victory away at Chelsea.

Pereira’s side have also been on an eight-game unbeaten run in the league, although their European heartbreak at Villa Park may have taken something out of them emotionally.

Head to head

This fixture has become something of a bogey tie for Manchester United in recent years.

The Red Devils are winless in their last four Premier League meetings with Forest, a run stretching back to a 3-2 win at Old Trafford in August 2023 under Erik ten Hag.

Since then, Forest have won three and drawn one of those encounters, including a memorable 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in December 2024 and a 1-0 win at the City Ground in April 2025 that completed a league double over United for the first time since the 1991-92 season under Brian Clough.

The reverse fixture this term ended 2-2 at the City Ground in November, with Casemiro heading United into a first-half lead from a Bruno Fernandes corner before Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona turned the game on its head after the break.

Amad Diallo rescued a point for Amorim’s side with a spectacular late volley that will live long in the memory.

In the broader picture, these two clubs have met 115 times across all competitions, with United holding a clear advantage: 54 wins to Forest’s 36, with 25 draws.

In the Premier League specifically, United have won 15 of 21 meetings, including the legendary 8-1 thrashing at the City Ground in February 1999.

That historical dominance, however, has been completely overturned in recent seasons, and Forest will arrive at Old Trafford with genuine belief.

Team news

Manchester United

The big news ahead of Sunday’s match is the expected return of Casemiro, who missed the draw at Sunderland with a minor issue but has since resumed full training.

The Brazilian midfielder is set to leave United on a free transfer this summer and will want to bow out at Old Trafford in style, having been a hugely popular figure behind the scenes throughout his time at the club.

Benjamin Sesko is also in contention after sitting out the Sunderland game with a shin injury sustained during the Liverpool victory, when he collided with the advertising hoardings.

Manuel Ugarte’s minor back problem has also cleared up, with the Uruguayan back in training and likely to return to the squad.

Matthijs de Ligt remains a long-term absentee, having not featured since a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace back in November due to a persistent back injury.

With this being the final home game, Carrick may look to give minutes to fringe players like Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Dorgu and Mason Mount from the bench.

Predicted Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Nottingham Forest

Vitor Pereira faces several selection dilemmas ahead of the trip to Old Trafford.

The biggest question mark surrounds Morgan Gibbs-White, who has missed the last two matches after suffering a serious facial laceration in the 3-1 win at Chelsea following a collision with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

The England midfielder has been training in a protective face mask and could be available, although Pereira was cautious in his pre-match press conference, saying the decision would be taken in consultation with the medical department.

Nigeria international Ola Aina has been ruled out after picking up a knee injury during the Europa League semi-final first leg against Aston Villa and has not been able to return to training.

His compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi, however, is expected to be involved, having made his comeback from a horrific abdominal injury suffered against Leicester City in May 2025 that left him in an induced coma.

Awoniyi has contributed four goals and one assist in limited league minutes this season and his physical presence could be vital against United’s backline.

Dan Ndoye and Ibrahim Sangare are also back in training and may feature, while Murillo, Callum Hudson-Odoi, John Victor, Willy Boly and Nicolo Savona have all been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

Predicted Nottingham Forest XI (4-4-2): Sels; Moreira, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Hutchinson, Anderson, Dominguez, Gibbs-White; Awoniyi, Igor Jesus

Nigeria’s Super Eagles at Old Trafford

This fixture carries an extra layer of interest for Nigerians thanks to the two Super Eagles stars on Forest’s books.

Ola Aina has been a consistent performer at right-back throughout his time at the City Ground, bringing Premier League experience, defensive nous and an attacking threat down the flank.

His absence through injury will be keenly felt by Pereira, with Eric da Silva Moreira likely to deputise on the right side of the defence.

Taiwo Awoniyi’s journey this season has been one of the most inspiring stories in English football.

The 28-year-old spent time in intensive care after emergency surgery following his abdominal injury last May, and the fact that he has returned to score four Premier League goals in limited minutes is a testament to his courage and determination.

His powerful hold-up play and clinical finishing make him an impact option from the bench, and with Forest’s survival already secured, Pereira may feel this is the right moment to hand Awoniyi a more prominent role as the club looks ahead to next season.

Star player showdown

Fernandes leads the Premier League assists chart with 19 this season, leaving him just one short of the all-time single-season record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

He has also created more chances than any other player in the division, with over 98 to his name, 40 more than the next closest competitor.

Gibbs-White, meanwhile, has been the heartbeat of Forest’s survival push, scoring 13 league goals with 10 of those coming in 2026 alone, more than any other player in the calendar year.

His hat-trick against Burnley and goal-and-assist display at Sunderland were the performances of a player at the peak of his powers.

If Gibbs-White is passed fit to play with his protective mask, this battle of the two number 10s could be the decisive subplot of the afternoon.

The managers

Michael Carrick’s stock could not be higher right now.

Reports indicate that Manchester United’s board is ready to recommend him for the permanent manager’s role, and he has also been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Year award alongside Mikel Arteta and Andoni Iraola, among others.

His record of 10 wins, two draws and three defeats in 15 league games since taking charge represents a points-per-game ratio that no United manager has matched in recent memory.

Carrick’s calm demeanour and tactical flexibility have been key ingredients, with the former midfielder blending the best of United’s attacking talent into a cohesive unit after the dysfunction of the Amorim era.

Vitor Pereira’s task has been very different but no less impressive.

Arriving as Forest’s fourth head coach of a chaotic season, the Portuguese was given a simple brief: keep the club in the Premier League.

He has done that and more, reaching the Europa League semi-finals along the way and getting the best out of key performers like Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.

His future at the City Ground remains uncertain despite those achievements, with owner Evangelos Marinakis already facing questions about the managerial situation heading into the summer.

Tactical preview

United have settled into a 4-2-3-1 shape under Carrick, with Fernandes operating as the creative fulcrum behind a central striker, flanked by wide forwards who like to cut inside.

The double pivot of Casemiro and Mainoo gives United a nice blend of experience and energy, while the full-backs, particularly Diogo Dalot, provide width and overlapping runs.

Carrick’s United like to dominate possession, averaging around 58% in his 15 games, and they are dangerous from set pieces, an area where Casemiro’s aerial ability has been a weapon throughout the season.

Pereira has shifted Forest to a 4-4-2 system that has transformed their season, with the switch unlocking Gibbs-White’s goalscoring potential by allowing him to drift infield from a nominally wide left position.

Omari Hutchinson holds the width on the right, while Neco Williams overlaps from left-back, creating numerical superiority on that flank.

Forest are comfortable sitting deep and hitting teams on the counter-attack, ranking among the top five in the Premier League for counter-attacking goals.

That could be a real danger for United if they commit too many bodies forward, particularly given Forest’s recent record at Old Trafford.

The key tactical battle could be in the middle of the park, where Anderson’s composure and ability to break up play may disrupt United’s passing rhythms.

If Forest can nullify Fernandes and force United into predictable patterns, they have the pace and directness to hurt them in transition.

Betting tips

Prediction

There is plenty to suggest this will be an entertaining afternoon at Old Trafford.

United’s desire to give Casemiro a proper send-off, combined with Fernandes’s pursuit of the assist record, should drive the hosts forward with purpose and intent.

Forest, though, will not roll over, and their recent record against United, coupled with the form of Gibbs-White and Anderson, means they will cause problems.

Carrick’s home record, however, is the deciding factor here: seven wins from eight at Old Trafford since January is a formidable foundation.

With nothing left to play for in terms of league position, this should be an open, emotionally charged encounter in which United’s superior quality ultimately tells.

Score prediction

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