Nottingham Forest 1 - 2 FT Manchester City

Cherki's Clinical Finish Crushes Forest's Fightback

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. Manchester City's stranglehold on the title tightened as Rayan Cherki's brace—goal and assist—dismantled a spirited Nottingham Forest side at City Ground, securing a 2-1 victory that underscores their relentless dominance.

The Turning Point: Cherki's 83rd-Minute Dagger

City controlled the narrative from kick-off, suffocating Forest with 66% possession and a relentless passing network (525 accurate passes, 90% completion). The intensity was suffocating. Forest's backline held firm until the 48th minute, when Tijjani Reijnders broke the deadlock after Cherki's assist—a moment that seemed to have settled matters. But Forest, trailing 17th in the table, refused to crumble. Oliver Hutchinson levelled just six minutes later, courtesy of Igor Jesus's assist, sparking belief at City Ground. The balance shifted. For 30 minutes, Forest dared to dream. Then, in the 83rd minute, Cherki delivered the knockout blow—a clinical finish set up by Joško Gvardiol's defence-splitting pass. City's quality ultimately prevailed.

City's Suffocating Control vs. Forest's Desperate Resistance

The numbers told the story: City's 16 shots to Forest's 7 revealed the gulf in stakes. City's xG of 1.39 dwarfed Forest's 0.59—a chasm that reflected their dominance in the final third. Cherki's 8.5 rating and three key passes illustrated his orchestration of City's attack. Gvardiol, the defensive architect, chipped in with an assist and 7.5 rating, showcasing City's threat from all angles. Forest fought valiantly—their 76% pass accuracy and five corners showed organisation—but lacked the precision to capitalise on their opportunities. This was a masterclass in controlled superiority.

City's Title Credentials on the Line at the City Ground

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 61/100. Manchester City's second-place position demands a statement win against a Nottingham Forest side in freefall—this is a six-pointer that could reshape the title race.

The Setup

The Stakes couldn't be higher. Manchester City sit second with 25 points from 13 games, but their recent form—WLWWL—shows cracks that a title contender cannot afford. Forest are in genuine crisis: 16th place, just 12 points, and a goal difference of minus-seven. The Balance is brutally one-sided, but City's inconsistency means complacency is a luxury they don't have.

Key Battle

Phil Foden versus Morgan Gibbs-White—the left-flank duel will define City's attacking rhythm. Foden's creativity (two goals, one assist in five matches) is City's creative heartbeat; Gibbs-White's three-goal haul in four games shows Forest's only spark comes from transitions. If Foden controls possession, City suffocates the contest. If Gibbs-White catches City on the break, Forest have a lifeline.

Our Prediction

Erling Haaland will punish Forest's fragile defence early. City dominate possession, Haaland adds a second before the hour mark, and a late Forest consolation makes the scoreline respectable. City 3-1 Forest. The title race tightens, but City's rivals know they're still the standard-bearers.