As Nottingham Forest and Millwall prepare to clash in a pre-season friendly at the Pinatar Arena in Southern Spain, both teams aim to maintain their unbeaten run this summer.
This article delves into the prediction, team form, latest news, and possible lineups for the match.
Match Preview
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest, under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo, have shown promising form in their pre-season fixtures.
After a convincing 3-0 victory over Chesterfield, they recently played out a 1-1 draw against Sunderland. In that match, Omar Richards scored the equaliser after Sunderland took an early lead.
The team will be looking to build on these performances as they continue their preparation for the upcoming Premier League season.
Millwall
Millwall, led by Neil Harris, have also enjoyed a strong pre-season.
The Lions have secured victories against Charlton Athletic and Reading, showcasing their attacking prowess.
However, they will be mindful of their recent record against Nottingham Forest, having failed to win in their last four competitive meetings since 2020.
Team News
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest recently bolstered their squad with the acquisition of Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina.
However, Milenkovic, along with several other new signings like Matz Sels and Gonzalo Montiel, will not feature in this match as they continue their recovery post-Euro 2024.
Key players such as Matt Turner, who played in the second half against Sunderland, and Elliot Anderson, recently signed from Newcastle United, are expected to get more game time.
The possible starting lineup includes Turner; Williams, Boly, Murillo, Toffolo; Dominguez, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; and Dennis.
Millwall
Millwall’s summer signings, including goalkeeper Lukas Jensen and defender Japhet Tanganga, are set to play significant roles.
Jensen completed over an hour in the match against Reading, while Tanganga might be promoted to the starting XI.
The expected lineup for Millwall is Jensen; McNamara, Tanganga, Cooper, Bryan; Watmore, Saville, Honeyman, Esse; Langstaff, and Nisbet.
Prediction
Given the conditions and the rotations expected, the match is likely to be closely contested. Nottingham Forest, with their Premier League experience and stronger squad depth, are tipped to edge out Millwall.
A single goal could be enough to decide the outcome, with Nottingham Forest likely to secure a narrow 1-0 victory.