Cherki strikes late for Citizens at the City Ground | OneFootball

Manchester City earned a hard-fought win at the City Ground thanks to Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute goal.

They knew they needed to win to keep the pressure on Arsenal going in 2026 and Pep Guardiola's side took the lead early in the second half.

Rayan Cherki threaded a ball through for Tijjani Reijnders to finish low past John Victor – that was the Dutch midfielder's second goal in as many games.

The home side equalised in the 54th minute though with Morgan Gibbs-White finding Igor Jesus who pulled the ball back for Omari Hutchinson with the forward bagging his first goal of the campaign.

City kept pushing to get back ahead with John Victor needing to make a strong stop to deny Phil Foden.

The pressure eventually told in the 83rd minute though. Foden's corner from the right was headed down by Josko Gvardiol into the path of Cherki to run on to and find the net through a sea of bodies.

That win puts City on top of the Premier League ahead of Arsenal's game against Brighton & Hove Albion later today.

Incidents: The story of the match

1':

The match begins

10':

Opportunity wasted. Rayan Cherki from Manchester City took a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area.

Nottingham Forest 0, Manchester City 1. Tijjani Reijnders scores for Manchester City with a left-footed shot from the middle of the box, finding the center of the net. The assist came from Rayan Cherki, who delivered a perfectly timed through ball.

48':

GOAL Manchester City: Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City) scores!

Tijjani Reijnders scores goal number 4 in the competition (17 matches)

It's Nottingham Forest 1, Manchester City 1. Omari Hutchinson scores for Nottingham Forest with a left-footed shot from the middle of the box, finding the center of the net. The assist comes from Igor Jesus.It's now Nottingham Forest 1, Manchester City 1. Omari Hutchinson finds the back of the net for Nottingham Forest with a left-footed shot from the center of the box right into the middle of the goal. The assist came from Igor Jesus.

54':

GOAL Nottingham Forest: Omari Hutchinson (Nottingham Forest) scores!

Omari Hutchinson scores goal number 1 in the competition (13 matches)

56':

Missed opportunity! Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sailed over the goal and to the right. The assist came from Nico O'Reilly.

56':

Opportunity wasted! Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sailed high and to the right of the goal. The assist came from Nico O'Reilly.

66':

Missed opportunity. Nicolò Savona of Nottingham Forest took a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it sailed over the goal and to the left.

72':

Opportunity wasted. Erling Haaland from Manchester City took a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area.

72':

Opportunity wasted! Erling Haaland from Manchester City takes a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area, but it sails over the bar. The assist came from Nico O'Reilly.

Nottingham Forest 1, Manchester City 2. Rayan Cherki scores for Manchester City, firing a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area into the bottom left corner. The assist came from Josko Gvardiol, who headed the ball after a corner kick.Nottingham Forest 1, Manchester City 2. Rayan Cherki scores for Manchester City with a right-footed shot from the middle of the box into the bottom left corner. The assist comes from Josko Gvardiol, who headed the ball following a corner kick.

83':

GOAL Manchester City: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) scores!

Rayan Cherki scores goal number 2 in the competition (13 matches)

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match