Manchester City Triumphs Over Nottingham Forest Amidst Impressive Performances

Riding high in both the Premier League and the Champions League, having secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, Manchester City arrived at Sean Dyche’s Forest in buoyant spirits, following an impressive series of results.

The first half was tightly contested, with neither side able to find the back of the net. However, Guardiola’s men managed to break the deadlock shortly after the interval, when Tijjani Reijnders skillfully connected with Cherki’s clever pass, sending the ball past Forest goalkeeper John Victor.

Dyche’s team, who had been in solid form themselves, winning three of their last six league matches, quickly leveled the score just six minutes later with Omari Hutchinson netting his first goal since joining Forest last summer.

In search of a hero to extend their recent victories over Crystal Palace, Real Madrid, and Brentford, Cherki stepped up once again, delivering a magnificent strike that went through Morgan Gibbs-White’s legs and found the net.

This decisive goal ultimately separated the two sides at full-time, temporarily placing City at the top of the league table, before they slipped back to second as title rivals Arsenal claimed a 2-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion later that day.

Cherki, a summer signing from Ligue 1 side Lyon, has made a significant impact on City, who have bounced back strongly from back-to-back defeats to Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen at the end of November. After his standout performance against Forest, Cherki’s season totals now stand at five goals and eight assists, marking one of the most impressive campaigns for a player new to English football.

Feeling confident after contributing to the victory, Cherki expressed his satisfaction in showcasing his many “qualities” in the win over Forest, which marked City’s fourth consecutive away triumph.

“We knew coming to Nottingham would be complicated because Forest is a very good team,” Cherki said in a post-match interview with BBC’s Match of the Day. “We are very proud to have won the game. I know my qualities. I provided a good pass for Tijjani Reijnders, and it was a great finish. I’m very proud of the team because this win is significant. Nottingham Forest is a strong team with many talented players, and we need every point throughout this lengthy season.”

With just seven minutes left in regular time, Cherki celebrated his goal by imitating one of his City teammates’ signature celebrations. He took a seat on the City Ground turf, which had served as his stage all afternoon, and performed Haaland’s trademark Lotus celebration—a move, he noted, that had been planned even before the match against Forest.

“I always want to score goals, but it’s not solely my role; Erling is here for that!” Cherki added. “I aim to provide my teammates with good passes and I take pride in that.”

In a separate conversation with City’s official website, Cherki shared, “Earlier in the week, I spoke to Erling and he told me, ‘When you score, do this celebration,’ so I did, and I am so happy.”

Having secured victory in their final match of 2025, City now looks to commence the new year on a high note when they face high-flying Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Following the match, a delighted Guardiola remarked on the club’s official website, “During winter, facing Nottingham Forest away is always challenging. I remember our experiences well. Three points are crucial, especially considering the quality of our opponent.”