On a brisk December afternoon at City Ground, Nottingham Forest squared off against Manchester City in a Premier League clash that had all the makings of a classic. With City chasing their eighth consecutive win in all competitions and Forest eager to cap off 2025 on a high note, anticipation was high in Nottinghamshire. The match, which kicked off at 7:30 a.m. ET and was broadcast on USA Network, promised drama—and it delivered in spades.
Nottingham Forest entered the contest with a mixed bag of recent form: three wins and three losses in their last six league outings, leaving them five points clear of the relegation zone. Just a week prior, Sean Dyche’s men had suffered a tough 1-0 defeat at Fulham, but their mid-table security was a testament to their resilience throughout the campaign.
Manchester City, meanwhile, arrived as one of the most in-form sides in Europe. Pep Guardiola’s squad had rattled off seven straight victories across all competitions, trailing Arsenal by just two points in a fiercely contested title race. City had also booked a spot in the Carabao Cup semifinals and were widely regarded as strong contenders in the Champions League. With Arsenal hosting Brighton later in the day, the pressure was on City to keep pace at the top.
Both managers had selection puzzles to solve. City’s lineup was missing some key names: Jeremy Doku, John Stones, and Oscar Bobb were all unavailable, with Rodri still on the mend from a hamstring injury sustained in October. However, Guardiola hinted before kickoff that Rodri might make a long-awaited return, stating, "We have to be cautious. Rodri has had several setbacks since May, but he’s close to being ready." Nico González, who has grown into a pivotal role in midfield, once again anchored the center of the park for City.
Forest’s starting eleven featured John Victor in goal, backed by a defense of Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, and Williams. The midfield duo of Dominguez and Anderson provided grit, while the creative spark came from Hutchinson, captain Morgan Gibbs-White, and Hudson-Odoi supporting Igor Jesus up front. On the bench, the likes of Sels, Morato, Zinchenko, Bakwa, and Awoniyi waited for their chance to impact proceedings.
From the opening whistle, both sides traded blows. City’s attacking trident of Rayan Cherki, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden looked lively, with Foden forcing an early block from outside the box, assisted by Nico González. Nottingham Forest, undeterred, pressed high and won several free kicks, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Callum Hudson-Odoi drawing fouls in dangerous areas.
The first half was a tense affair, marked by disciplined defending and flashes of attacking intent. City probed relentlessly—Savinho saw a shot from a tight angle saved by John Victor, while Haaland was caught offside as he looked to break the deadlock. Forest responded with efforts of their own, as Neco Williams tested Donnarumma with a stinging shot from distance, only to be denied by the Italian keeper.
As halftime approached, the match remained deadlocked at 0-0, but tempers began to flare. Elliot Anderson picked up a yellow card for Forest following a heavy challenge, while City’s Rúben Dias also found his way into the referee’s book for a foul on Igor Jesus. The fourth official signaled a single minute of added time, but neither side could find the breakthrough before the interval.
The second half saw the tempo rise. City struck first blood when Tijjani Reijnders, latching onto a clever through ball from Rayan Cherki, rifled home a left-footed shot from the center of the box. The goal, coming just minutes after the restart, silenced the home crowd and put City in the driver’s seat.
Forest, however, refused to fold. Sean Dyche shuffled his pack, bringing on Dilane Bakwa for Callum Hudson-Odoi and later introducing Taiwo Awoniyi for Nicolás Domínguez. The changes injected fresh energy, and Forest soon found their reward. In a well-worked move, Igor Jesus teed up Omari Hutchinson, who slotted a left-footed finish past Donnarumma to level the scores at 1-1. The City Ground faithful erupted—game on!
Guardiola responded with tactical tweaks of his own. Nathan Aké replaced Rayan Cherki, and Savinho came on for Reijnders as City sought to regain control. The visitors pressed forward, winning a flurry of corners through persistent pressure from Foden and Haaland. Despite several blocked attempts and a crucial save from John Victor, City’s persistence paid off in dramatic fashion.
With the clock ticking down and five minutes of added time announced, City earned yet another corner. Josko Gvardiol rose highest to meet the delivery, nodding the ball into the path of Rayan Cherki, who made no mistake from close range—right-footed into the bottom left corner. The goal restored City’s lead at 2-1 and left Forest with little time to respond.
Forest threw bodies forward in search of an equalizer. Nikola Milenkovic saw a shot blocked from the center of the box, and Neco Williams continued to drive his side forward, winning free kicks and launching crosses into the area. Igor Jesus, ever the threat, had a late header blocked and was caught offside in a desperate push for parity.
City’s defense held firm, with Donnarumma making another key save late on. The final whistle brought relief to the visiting supporters and a sense of what-might-have-been for Forest. While the match prediction from OddsWire had tipped City for a 3-0 win, the real contest proved far more competitive and unpredictable.
For Manchester City, the win keeps them firmly entrenched in the title race, just two points adrift of Arsenal. Their eighth straight victory across all competitions underscores the depth and resilience of Guardiola’s squad—even in the absence of key players. Forest, meanwhile, can take heart from a spirited performance against elite opposition, maintaining their cushion above the drop zone as the season heads into a crucial stretch.
As the dust settles at City Ground, both teams will reflect on a match filled with drama, tactical intrigue, and moments of individual brilliance. For the neutral fan, it was a Premier League encounter that lived up to its billing—intense, unpredictable, and full of heart.
