NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND — The City Ground witnessed a tense battle as second-placed Manchester City secured a hard-fought 1-2 victory over 16th-placed Nottingham Forest in front of 30,778 supporters, with Rayan Cherki's late winner breaking the hearts of the home faithful on a dramatic Wednesday evening.
The opening 45 minutes saw Manchester City dominate the ball with 65.9% possession, pinning Nottingham Forest back for long stretches, yet the hosts' defensive resilience kept the scoreline blank at the break. Phil Foden orchestrated City's attacks while Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic stood firm at the heart of Forest's backline, repelling wave after wave of pressure.
The deadlock finally shattered three minutes into the second half when Tijjani Reijnders slotted a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal in the 48th minute, finishing clinically after Rayan Cherki threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into his path. The City Ground fell silent as the visitors' quality told. However, Forest's response came swiftly and emphatically. In the 54th minute, Omari Hutchinson restored parity with a composed left-footed finish from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal, converting after Igor Jesus's intelligent assist sent the home crowd into raptures.
The tactical battle intensified as Pep Guardiola's side probed for openings against a Forest side that grew in confidence. Nico González and Matheus Nunes controlled the midfield corridors, but Forest's Elliot Anderson and Nicolás Domínguez refused to yield ground. Goalkeeper John Victor emerged as Forest's hero with three crucial saves, denying Cherki, Foden, and a late effort from substitute Savinho to keep his side level. At the other end, Gianluigi Donnarumma made one vital stop, preserving City's hopes of claiming all three points.
Manchester City created more chances throughout the contest, registering 16 shots to Forest's seven, with five on target compared to the hosts' two. The visitors' 13 fouls to Forest's five reflected their frustration against a disciplined defensive unit, while two yellow cards—including one for Nico O'Reilly after a 59th-minute foul on Hutchinson—highlighted the growing tension.
The decisive moment arrived in the 83rd minute when Cherki struck his right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner, meeting Josko Gvardiol's headed pass following a corner. The Croatian defender's aerial prowess combined with Cherki's predatory instincts proved the difference, silencing The City Ground and sending the travelling support into delirium. Forest pushed desperately for another equalizer, with substitute Taiwo Awoniyi entering the fray, but City's defensive shape held firm through five nervy minutes of stoppage time.
Erling Haaland endured a frustrating evening, missing a 72nd-minute opportunity and being caught offside twice as Forest's high line caught him out. The Norwegian's struggles epitomized City's difficulty in breaking down a determined Forest side that refused to surrender despite their precarious league position.
Looking ahead, Nottingham Forest will host Everton on December 30, while Manchester City host Sunderland on January 1.