Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Report

Scorer: Hudson-Odoi 83’

Nottingham Forest secured a memorable 1-0 victory over reigning champions Manchester City at the City Ground, with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late strike proving decisive.

The result extends Forest’s remarkable season and keeps them firmly in UEFA Champions League contention, while City’s top-four hopes hang in the balance.

Forest’s Tactical Discipline Frustrates Possession-Dominant City

Heading into the fixture, Forest had established themselves as a unique force in the Premier League, achieving success despite having the league’s lowest average possession.

In contrast, Pep Guardiola’s City, who lead the possession charts, were expected to control the ball—and they did—but struggled to break down a disciplined home side.

The visitors came close early on when Erling Haaland’s snapshot took a deflection before rolling just wide. Moments later, Nico González tested Forest’s defensive resolve with a powerful strike from distance that crashed against the outside of the near post.

However, clear-cut chances remained limited as the first half concluded goalless, with Forest showing glimpses of attacking intent but failing to seriously trouble Ederson.

Hudson-Odoi Leads Second-Half Charge for Forest

Nottingham Forest continued their impressive home record, maintaining their status as the only Premier League side yet to trail at half-time this season. Despite City’s continued dominance in possession, Forest held firm and grew into the contest.

A significant shift in momentum came in the 67th minute when Hudson-Odoi nearly broke the deadlock. The winger was denied by a combination of Ederson’s quick reactions and the inside of the post, serving as a warning sign for Guardiola’s men.

In response, City made changes, introducing Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush to inject fresh energy into their attack.

However, neither substitute was able to truly test Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, as the visitors struggled to find a way through.

Hudson-Odoi Strikes Late to Sink Guardiola’s Side

As the match appeared destined for a stalemate, Forest produced a moment of brilliance to claim all three points.

A sublime long-range pass from Morgan Gibbs-White unlocked City’s defence, allowing Hudson-Odoi to charge forward. With time and space, the former Chelsea man cut outside before drilling a powerful strike beyond Ederson at his near post, sending the City Ground into raptures.

City had little time to mount a response, and their best chance to salvage a point came through Mateo Kovačić, whose thunderous volley whistled narrowly wide.

Despite their late push, Guardiola’s side was unable to penetrate a well-organised Forest backline, suffering a rare defeat.

Forest’s Champions League Charge Continues as City’s Top-Four Spot at Risk

This victory marks Forest’s first league win over Manchester City since December 1997 (D2, L7), solidifying their place in the Premier League’s top four. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side remains third in the table, having yet to drop out of the Champions League qualification spots in 2025.

Meanwhile, City’s loss leaves them vulnerable, with Chelsea’s upcoming clash against Leicester City carrying major implications.

A Chelsea victory on Sunday would see Guardiola’s men slip out of the automatic UEFA Champions League qualification places, adding further pressure to their already challenging campaign.

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Nottm Forest v Man City, 2024/25 | Premier League