City end the year in style with late win at Forest | OneFootball

Rayan Cherki’s 83rd minute winner secured a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest as Manchester City made it a perfect ending to 2025.

After neither side had a shot on target in the first half, Tijjani Reijnders fired us ahead three minutes after the break when he calmly finished a well-crafted move.

But we looked like we would be denied a perfect December when Omari Hutchinson equalised from close range six minutes later.

With time ticking down, Cherki who also provided the assist for Reijnders’ opener, drilled a low volley through a crowded penalty area and into the net.

The victory was our eighth on the bounce and took us top of the Premier League ahead of Arsenal’s game later this afternoon.

THE GAME IN 250 WORDS

There was little Christmas spirit at the City Ground in a tetchy opening 45 minutes with defences on top and no shots on target, but the festive cheer would come later.

City survived a scare in the opening five minutes when Callum Hudson-Odoi’s dangerous cross evaded Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White on the edge of the six-yard box.

We had more of the ball but found it difficult to break down the hosts with Cherki having one looping effort over the bar while Erling Haaland and Phil Foden saw shots blocked from good positions.

The game came to life shortly after the break when a clever City move cut open the home side. Cherki slid a pass down the side of the Forest defence and Reijnders clinically finished in front of the jubilant away fans.

The Frenchman almost doubled our lead shortly after from a quick break but John Victor touched the ball onto the outside of the post.

However, City’s lead lasted just six minutes with Hutchinson finishing Igor Jesus’s cross from close range.

Forest’s Brazilian striker acted as a battering ram all afternoon and he teed up Neco Williams whose low drive was well saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nicola Savona fired the rebound over.

His compatriot John Victor, at the other end of the pitch, made a superb save to deny Phil Foden’s close range shot after he wriggled into the box and it looked like earning them a point.

But there was one last twist as a corner was cleared to Cherki whose first time effort found its way into the back of the net.

TEAMS

Forest: John Victor, Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez (Awoniyi 87), Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White (C), Hudson-Odoi (Bakwa 92), Igor Jesus

Subs not used: Sels, Morato, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, McAtee, Zinchenko, Abbott

City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico, Bernardo (C), Reijnders (Savinho73), Foden, Cherki (Ake 89), Haaland

Subs not used: Trafford, Rodri, Khusanov, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, R Heskey

DECEMBER DELIGHT

A magnificent seven this month has kept us in the mix in three competitions.

This was our fifth in the Premier League, after ending November with a win over Leeds, has kept us in the title race.

Add in a Champions League win at 13-time European champions Real Madrid and securing a Carabao Cup semi-final spot with a win over Brentford, it’s been a brilliant month for the Blues.

There’s plenty to look forward to as we move into 2026!

Assistant boss

The Premier League Playmaker of the season award was introduced in 2017/18 and City are the only team to have a player win it three times.

On each occasion, Kevin De Bruyne claimed the title for the most assists in a campaign.

After creating Reijnders’ goal, Cherki now sits on top of this season’s charts with Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.

Both have a total of seven assists, although the City star’s have come from just eight Premier League starts.

STAR MAN

With his assistant and winner Cherki gets the nod for the man of the match.

City’s central paring of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias did well to deal with striker Igor Jesus who made himself a pest all afternoon.

But our number 10’s big moments were key to securing a huge three points on a tricky afternoon.

Guardiola reaction

“[Forest] are an incredible team, the way that they play they do it unbelievably. Igor [Jesus] wins all of the balls. They have a top quality team, This team was in the Champions League but for one or two games last season and now in European competitions. A fantastic team and tough place to come, and at winter time.

“We talked a lot about this in the last few days with the players. Winter time, at Nottingham Forest, you have to be there, there, there. Today if we are not ready then we do not win that game. The mentality was unbelievable, so really pleased again for the guys.”

CHERKI reaction

“We knew coming to Nottingham, it was very complicated because Forest is a very good team. We are very proud to win the game.

“I know my qualities. I gave a good pass for Tijjani Reijnders and it was a very good finish. I’m very proud of the team because today is a big win.

“When you come here, you know the team of Nottingham Forest is a big team with a lot of good players. I’m very proud to score for my team because the season is so long and we need all the points.”

WHAT IT MEANS

City made it eight wins on the run as we moved a point clear at the top of the table with Arsenal having a game in hand and playing later on Saturday.

WHAT’S NEXT

City kick off 2026 with a really tough game on New Year’s Day against Sunderland.

We travel to the Stadium of Light on Thursday 1 January for a 20:00 (UK) kick-off to face a Black Cats side that has not been beaten at home all season.