Two of the most successful English Football League (EFL) Cup clubs do battle on Wednesday in the first leg of the second semi-final.
Four time winners Nottingham Forest play five time winners Manchester United at the City Ground, with both teams looking to gain an advantage going into the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final next week.
Despite the Premier League taking priority, being so close to a Wembley final and the first piece of domestic silverware this season, means we can expect strong sides named and full attention from both clubs on Wednesday.
An intriguing clash awaits, and you can make it even more interesting at Bet9ja, with around 200 markets to bet on for this one.
Here’s an in-depth look at the EFL Cup semi-final first leg between Nottingham Forest and Man Utd:
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Wednesday 25th January 21:00
City Ground
Appearing in the Premier League for the first time since 1999, Nottingham Forest are making a good fist of staying up. Having signed 25 players so far this season, Forest are 13th and four points above the dreaded relegation zone. A late Sam Surridge goal rescued a point at Bournemouth and made it four unbeaten in the league for Steve Cooper’s men.
After a slow start to the season and so many new signings, the Tricky Trees have finally managed to look like a cohesive unit and one who are harder to break down. Since losing to Man Utd at Old Trafford last month, Forest have conceded just two in four league matches and have stopped the flow of goals against them, which was their downfall earlier in the season.
Serge Aurier and Renan Lodi add much needed experience in defence, while Morgan Gibbs-White has impressed since signing from Wolves. Arguably, academy graduate Brennan Johnson has been his side’s most outstanding player this season, scoring six times and assisting twice overall so far. Unfortunately for Forest, goalkeeper Dean Henderson is cup-tied against his parent club while new loan signing Chris Wood is also unavailable, having appeared for Newcastle in earlier rounds.
Having hoisted themselves into title contention after a slow start to the season, Man Utd’s charge has come crashing down with two disappointing results in the space of a week. Firstly, a last minute Michael Olise free-kick denied United all three points at Crystal Palace. Then on Sunday, another last minute strike broke United hearts in a title contention match at Arsenal.
Marcus Rashford put United ahead, before goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka turned the match around for the hosts. Lisandro Martinez headed in an equaliser before that last gasp Nketiah winner, in an excellently contested and hard-fought battle between the two. However, United are now 11 points behind the Gunners and arguably out of the title race once again.
That means the domestic competitions provide Erik ten Hag’s men with the best chance of silverware this season. The tie on Wednesday is the toughest United have faced so far in this season’s EFL Cup, with the third round clash against Aston Villa at home the only Premier League opposition United have faced in the competition so far.
Casemiro’s return from midfield will provide United with a big boost as the Red Devils seek their first success in the EFL Cup since 2017.
The only other meeting between the two sides this season finished 3-0 to Man Utd at Old Trafford. Incidentally, the last meeting at the City Ground finished 8-1 to Man Utd back in 1999, with substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer netting four times.
It should be an electric atmosphere as Nottingham Forest themselves are aiming for a first EFL Cup final appearance since 1992.
Goals can’t be ruled out and you can get odds of 1.82 for over 2.5 goals and odds of 2.94 for over 2.5 goals, at Bet9ja. We fancy a draw for this one and in terms of the correct score market, we’ve priced up a 1-1 draw at 7.60 and a 2-2 correct score at 16.00. Why not add the goalscorer market to your betslip, with Rashford 5.80 to continue his fine form by scoring first and 2.80 to net anytime. New boy Wout Weghorst is 2.70 to score at anytime and 5.60 to score first. For the hosts, you can get odds of 12.25 for Johnson to score first and 5.40 anytime.
Bet9ja odds (at time of writing): Nottingham Forest win: 5.10, Draw: 3.80, Manchester United win: 1.68
Bet on Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
