Manchester City 2 (Tijjani Reijnders 48′, Rayan Cherki 83′)
Nottingham Forest 1 (Omari Hutchinson 54′)
Manchester City have picked up a precious 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at The City Ground today. Goals from Tijjani Reijnders and a late Rayan Cherki volley were enough for Pep Guardiola’s side to pick up a huge three points and move to the top of the Premier League table ahead of Arsenal’s match against Brighton.
The big news ahead of kickoff was that Rodri made his long-awaited return to the City squad for today’s match. The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder was on the bench for today’s match which was a big boost ahead of kickoff for Pep Guardiola’s side.
First half.
After a touching tribute to Nottingham Forest legend John Robertson, who sadly passed away on Christmas Day, was observed at The City Ground, the game kicked off. The Forest fans were up for the occasion and you did sense that this would be a tough test for Pep Guardiola’s side.
After Manchester City began the game brightly, Nottingham Forest would create the first real chance of the game in the seventh minute. A well-worked Forest move saw Callum Hudson-Odoi play in a teasing cross into the City box from the left. His quality ball evaded the outstretched Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus. Neither player could get a touch on the ball to test Gianluigi Donnarumma. But it was a warning to City of the threat that Sean Dyche’s side has in the final third.
As the game entered the 20th minute, Pep Guardiola’s side had dominated possession but offered very little going forward. Nottingham Forest were well-organised defensively and were not allowing City any space to play when they entered the final third. Sean Dyche’s side were creating issues for City when they did venture forward. Forest were looking the more dangerous of the two teams in the final third in the game’s opening 20 minutes.
As the game ticked past the half-hour mark there was no flow to the game at all. Pep Guardiola’s side was having a tough time breaking down Nottingham Forest. The hosts had put pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side with a series of corners. Besides a fracas between Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nikola Milenkovic, nothing of note came from Forest’s set pieces. It was clear that City would need to be patient and take their chances if and when they came to prosper against a determined Nottingham Forest outfit.
The first half was becoming a frustrating experience for Manchester City.
As the first half entered the final five minutes, it was clear to see that Nottingham Forest’s gameplan was working. Sean Dyche had set out his team to deny City space in the middle and force them wide. It was a plan that was working to perfection. Pep Guardiola’s side had no space to operate in. Every time City looked to have created an opening, the Forest defence was on hand to quickly snuff out the danger.
As the first half entered the 44th minute every City shot had been blocked by some desperate Forest defending. Although Forest had looked lively when they went forward, they were struggling to create any significant chances themselves.
At halftime, the match was delicately poised at nil-all. It was an even affair and you did sense that one piece of magic could settle the game for either side. Tellingly there were no shots on target in the first half for either side. Both teams had defended superbly well and that did stand out throughout the first half.
Second half.
Ruben Dias could have received a second yellow card for a dangerous challenge to begin the second half. But the referee didn’t book Dias and you could sense the fury of Sean Dyche and the Nottingham Forest fans. It would get worse for the hosts in the 48th minute.
Tijjani Reijnders fires Manchester City into the lead!!!!!
Manchester City would take the lead in the 48th minute. City had a spell of possession that saw Rayan Cherki picked out in space on the edge of the Forest penalty area. Cherki played a sumptuous ball to Tijjani Reijnders who beat John Victor with a composed left-footed finish to give City the lead.
🚨🏴 REIJNDERS OPENS THE SCORING FOR MANCHESTER CITY! RAYAN CHERKI WITH THE ASSIST!
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City.pic.twitter.com/gHmZIlyGNA
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 27, 2025
John Victor would make a fine save two minutes later to deny Rayan Cherki. Cherki drove at Forest’s defence and got himself into a good position in the area. He fired in a clever right-footed shot that Victor got down to his right well and tipped Cherki’s shot onto his near post and wide.
Manchester City’s lead would only last six minutes. Tijjani Reijnders lost the ball on the edge of the Forest area, which set up a Nottingham Forest counterattack. Sean Dyche’s side broke with pace and in the final third Morgan Gibbs-White picked Igor Jesus out on the left with a clever ball. Igor Jesus played in a good cross to the backpost which Omari Hutchinson met and he beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a cool and composed first-time left-footed finish to make it 1-all in the 54th minute.
Gianluigi Donnarumma would make a good save low down to his right to deny Nico Williams in the 65th minute. Williams received the ball from a clever Morgan Gibbs-White flick just outside the City penalty area. Williams hit a low drive with his right foot which was destined for the bottom corner until Donnarumma made a smart save. Nicola Savona fired the rebound over the bar which was a good chance in itself for Nottingham Forest to take the lead.
John Victor would deny Phil Foden from close range in the 72nd minute. Foden was played in by Rayan Cherki who picked out the England international in a good position in the Forest area. Foden quickly got a left-footed shot away that Victor saved well to keep the score at 1-all.
RAYAN CHERKI FIRES CITY BACK INTO THE LEAD!!!!!!
Manchester City would take the lead into the 83rd minute. After a series of City corners were cleared, Phil Foden picked out Josko Gvardiol at the backpost with a quality corner. Gvardiol nodded the ball down to Rayan Cherki who beat John Victor with a powerful right-footed volley from the edge of the area that thundered past Victor to restore Manchester City’s lead. It was a beautiful goal and it had the potential to be an extremely important one.
🚨🏴 RAYAN CHERKI HAS GIVEN MANCHESTER CITY THE LEAD IN THE 83RD MINUTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester City.pic.twitter.com/jImTfINyIv
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 27, 2025
Rayan Cherki’s goal would be the final significant moment of the match. It would be the defining moment of the game as it sealed a massive three points for Pep Guardiola’s side. City saw off a determined Nottingham Forest side who gave as good as they got in an entertaining and hard fought Premier League match at The City Ground.
First thoughts at the final whistle.
That victory felt like a massive win for Manchester City. They weren’t at their best as they had to fight and scrap their way to victory against a determined and well-organised Nottingham Forest side. In the end, the class of Rayan Cherki stood out, as did Phil Foden’s and in the end City came away from a tough venue with a massive three points. Today’s result was the eighth consecutive win for Pep Guardiola’s side in all competitions and it now feels like City are building real momentum. A win like that feels like it is worth so much more than three points and that was the overwhelming feeling come the final whistle.