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End of the game:
Key moments
- 2:24 PM ETEnd of the game
- 2:08 PM ET75'Yellow card · Enzo Fernández
- 1:56 PM ET65'Yellow card · James McAtee
- 1:49 PM ETGoal by Liam Delap · 3-1
- 1:43 PM ET52'Goal by Rayan Cherki · 2-1
- 1:32 PM ETBench options and tactical tweaks for the…
- 1:19 PM ETHalftime
- 12:52 PM ET18'Goal by Liam Delap · 2-0
- 12:39 PM ET6'Goal by Jair Cunha · 1-0
- 12:31 PM ETThe game started
Four additional minutes will be played.
Four additional minutes will be played. The Nottingham Forest manager is instructing his players to tighten their defensive lines and stop attacking. Manchester City is resorting to long balls, hoping to pull a goal back that might give them a chance to equalize in the final minute.
The manager makes a change
The manager makes a change: Liam Delap comes off and Igor Jesus comes on (Nottingham Forest). Manchester City could not find a way to level the match; just as they came closest to doing so, the home side scored their third goal.
Luca Netz (Nottingham Forest) sends a good lofted cross
Luca Netz (Nottingham Forest) sends a good lofted cross into the box. The defense is alert and manages to clear the ball. A substitution is coming up; Ryan Yates is leaving the pitch. Oliver Glasner gives some final instructions to Ibrahim Sangaré. Phil Foden (Manchester City) comes onto the field, replacing Enzo Fernández.
Enzo Fernández (Manchester City) pounces on a rebound
Enzo Fernández (Manchester City) pounces on a rebound and fires a shot at goal, but his effort is blocked. Prior to this, there was another yellow card: Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest) was cautioned for bringing down an opponent. Samuel Barrott did not hesitate to show the card.
Goal!
Oliver Glasner has decided to make two substitutions.
Oliver Glasner has decided to make two substitutions. Dan Ndoye replaces James McAtee. Colombian full-back Daniel Muñoz is taken off, with Luca Netz coming on in his place. Nottingham Forest are looking to restore balance in their defensive line.
James McAtee (Nottingham Forest) is shown a yellow card
James McAtee (Nottingham Forest) is shown a yellow card for his conduct. Manchester City has lost the intensity they had managed to build up in the opening minutes of the second half. We’ve passed the hour mark!
The goal that narrowed the deficit:
Rayan Cherki reaches the ball at the edge of the box and doesn't hesitate to strike it first-time. His shot is excellent, going straight into the top-left corner. That was the sequence leading to the match's third goal—a consolation goal.
Great collective play from Manchester City
Great collective play from Manchester City, controlling the ball with numerous short passes and patiently searching for an opening in the opposing defense. Nottingham Forest will need to make some decisions, as their opponent is getting closer and closer to an equalizer.
Rayan Cherki!
Rayan Cherki! Goal!, Goal!, Goal!, Goal for Manchester City. A fine goal from the Citizens, who narrow the deficit early in the second half.
WELCOME TO THE SECOND HALF: Substitutions are being made
WELCOME TO THE SECOND HALF: Substitutions are being made for Manchester City. Marc Guehi is coming off the pitch. Enzo Maresca is giving final instructions to Matheus Nunes. Josko Gvardiol will be replaced by Nico O'Reilly.
Bench options and tactical tweaks for the second half
Despite completing 293 passes at an 87% clip and earning four corners, Manchester City lacked verticality inside the box. Bringing on Phil Foden or Nico O'Reilly could unlock a compact defense that only needed 78 passes to build a 2-0 lead. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest still has Chris Wood and Arnaud Kalimuendo ready to counter.
- Completed passes (accuracy): Nottingham Forest 78 (68%) – 293 (87%) Manchester City
- Fouls committed: Nottingham Forest 4 – 3 Manchester City
- Offsides: Nottingham Forest 2 – 0 Manchester City
First-half stats: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Manchester City
Nottingham Forest delivered a clinical first-half performance, stunning Manchester City early with goals from Jair Cunha in the 6th minute and Liam Delap in the 18th. Despite holding just 25% possession against the visitors' 75%, the hosts generated sharper danger, outshooting City 7 to 6 and leading 4 to 3 in shots on target.
- Ball possession: Nottingham Forest 25% – 75% Manchester City
- Total shots (on target): Nottingham Forest 7 (4) – 6 (3) Manchester City
- Corners: Nottingham Forest 2 – 4 Manchester City
- Goalkeeper saves: Nottingham Forest 2 – 2 Manchester City
Manchester City:
The visiting side has lacked composure in this match. They look slow and imprecise, and their decision-making has been highly erratic. Maresca needs to turn to his bench and find alternative solutions to mount a comeback.
Nottingham Forest:
Halftime:
Folks, we’re heading into the break. Nottingham Forest has played one of their best first halves of the season. They came out looking to finish off their opponent and catch them off guard. Manchester City looks physically exhausted.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) receives a brilliant
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) receives a brilliant pass inside the box and has a great opportunity. He takes a shot, but his effort is well intercepted by a defender. It’s the first real chance for the "android," who hasn’t had a good first half.
With 5 minutes left in the first half
With 5 minutes left in the first half, Manchester City is struggling significantly to respond after conceding two goals; the players clearly look uncomfortable on the pitch. Nottingham Forest is defending well, dropping back effectively.
The defense manages to win the ball and avert
The defense manages to win the ball and avert the danger following a lofted cross from Jeremy Doku. Corner kick. A chance for Manchester City. Enzo Maresca looks quite concerned about his team's positioning on the pitch. He will likely have to make some decisions soon.
Cunha finds himself in a great position after receiving
Cunha finds himself in a great position after receiving a precise pass inside the box, but he hits a poor shot that goes well wide of the left post. The ball goes out over the goal line, and Manchester City will take a goal kick.
A great delivery into the box for Marc Guehi.
A great delivery into the box for Marc Guehi. Enzo Fernández heads the ball from close range, and it goes just over the crossbar. The ball goes out of play, and Nottingham Forest will have a goal kick. The hosts are certainly doing enough to narrow the deficit.
A great opportunity wasted by James McAtee: He controlled
A great opportunity wasted by James McAtee: He controlled the ball following a good low pass and took a shot on goal from a dangerous position, but the ball ended up in the stands. The ball has gone out of play, and it will be a goal kick for Manchester City.
Liam Delap caps off a fine individual effort
Daniel Muñoz sends an imprecise low pass into
Daniel Muñoz sends an imprecise low pass into the box, and a defender manages to intercept it. The ball goes out for a corner. An opportunity for Nottingham Forest to threaten the opposition goal. City are let off the hook again!
The Citizens push for an equalizer with urgency
Cunha!
The game started:
Friends, welcome to Saturday’s action in the Premier League. We’re already at matchweek 10! Manchester City will look to reclaim the top spot after losing it last weekend. Nottingham Forest needs to climb out of the relegation zone.
We’re starting in 5 minutes; we’re ready:
City have only lost this fixture once since Forest returned to the top flight in 2022, with their 1–0 defeat at the City Ground in the 2024–25 campaign an outlier. Six of the nine meetings over the past four years have been won by the eight-time Premier League champions. Forest’s frustrations on their own patch extend back to last season, with the club winless in the last six league games at the City Ground. Victory over Burnley in April is the last time they were triumphant on home soil in the Premier League.
The home team in the relegation zone:
Forest sit 19th on six points with only six league goals scored in nine games.
Forest are winless in their last six home league games, drawing three and losing three.
Physical toll on the visiting team:
- City are second on 21 points and have scored 20 league goals this season
- City have lost their last two league games and have conceded in each of their recent matches
- City kick off roughly 70 hours after their midweek win at Leipzig; Forest have had about a week
Amazing
Last season in the Premier League, Manchester City beat the Tricky Trees 2-1 at The City Ground, while the second fixture of the campaign ended 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland is only one goal away from equaling Niall Quinn's record of six goals for Manchester City against Nottingham Forest.
Facts to consider before the match:
- Manchester City have the slight edge in the historical record between these clubs, with the Sky Blues beating Nottingham Forest 41 times in their 99 matches.
- Forest have beaten Man City 32 times in the past, with 26 games between these English clubs ending all square.
Manchester City:
In their recent five-match run (W-W-W-W-L), Manchester City recorded four wins and one defeat. This sequence began on September 13, 2026, with a 0-1 away victory in the derby against Manchester United, followed by three consecutive wins: a 5-3 home victory over Sunderland on September 20, a commanding 0-3 away win against Liverpool on October 11, and a narrow 3-2 home win against Ipswich Town on October 17. This positive streak finally came to an end on October 24, following a 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest:
In their recent five-match run (W-L-L-L-D), Nottingham Forest have recorded one win, three losses, and one draw. This sequence began on September 12, 2026, with a 1–2 away victory against Aston Villa, followed by three consecutive defeats: 0–1 at home to Coventry City on September 19, 3–1 away to Crystal Palace on October 11, and 0–1 at home to Arsenal on October 18. Finally, they concluded this series of matches on October 23 with a 1–1 draw away to Ipswich Town.
Manchester City Confirmed Starting XI: Haaland, Doku, Cherki and Enzo Fernández start
Enzo Maresca names his official Manchester City starting lineup (4-2-3-1) at The City Ground: Gianluigi Donnarumma (1); Marc Guéhi (6), Rúben Dias (3), Abdukodir Khusanov (45), Josko Gvardiol (24); Elliot Anderson (5), Enzo Fernández (17); Iliman Ndiaye (7), Rayan Cherki (10), Jérémy Doku (11); Erling Haaland (9).
Manchester City substitutes: Gerónimo Rulli (28), Vitor Reis (22), Nico O'Reilly (33), Rico Lewis (82), Matheus Nunes (27), Mateo Kovacic (8), Ayyoub Bouaddi (32), Allan Elias (37), Phil Foden (47).
Nottingham Forest Confirmed Starting XI: Delap, Gibbs-White and Murillo start at City Ground
Nottingham Forest official starting lineup (3-4-2-1) at The City Ground: Matz Sels (26); Jair Paula (23), Nikola Milenkovic (31), Murillo (5); Daniel Muñoz (27), Ryan Yates (22), James McAtee (24), Neco Williams (3); Morgan Gibbs-White (10), Xaver Schlager (21); Liam Delap (19).
Nottingham Forest substitutes: John Victor (12), Ousmane Diomande (2), Luca Netz (25), Ibrahim Sangaré (6), Callum Hudson-Odoi (7), Dan Ndoye (14), Chris Wood (9), Igor Jesus (11), Arnaud Kalimuendo (15).
Explore more stats, standings and news on VAVEL Data: Nottingham Forest · Manchester City
Nottingham Forest secured a VERY IMPORTANT victory, helping them climb partially out of the relegation zone. Manchester City played one of their worst matches of the season so far.
Jair Cunha - 6'
Liam Delap - 18', 73'
Rayan Cherki - 52'