City's wide deliveries ask Forest to defend the first receiver and the runner arriving behind him. Osasuna against Athletic also turns on what happens after a team advances and the next pass changes direction. In both matches, the space around a compact central defence matters more than possession alone.
City created their Leipzig goals through different deliveries and receivers, with Fernandez arriving as well as Haaland. Forest's wide handovers broke down at Brentford before and after substitutions. That gives City's wide creators a concrete area to work on as they build territory.
Jesus has returned to training for Forest, while Dominguez remains unavailable. City's Semenyo absence already has working alternatives, and Dias and Gvardiol offer defensive rotation after Leipzig; O'Reilly's fitness remains qualified. I expect City's possession to build into repeated wide entries and fresh attacking involvement after the interval. That's why I'm siding with Manchester City to win.
Athletic can move from a regain into Iñaki Williams's runs, with Nico or Navarro providing the pass. Osasuna want territory and early delivery toward Budimir, bringing the midfield's protection of the next ball into focus. Berenguer's restarts give Athletic another way to reach the box.
Osasuna's official squad continues without Oroz, Herrando and Del Castillo. Athletic lose Sannadi from the previous starting attack, but Navarro already sustained their progression after replacing him; Galarreta is back among the available options. I expect Athletic to alternate pressure with a medium block and attack forward quickly when possession turns over. That's why I'm siding with Athletic Bilbao, with a level finish protected.
