Manchester City edged Nottingham Forest 2‑1 on Saturday night, thanks to an 83rd‑minute winner from Rayan Cherki. The win was Pep Guardiola’s eighth consecutive victory at the City Ground, giving him a flawless December at home.
The first half was a dead‑heat. Neither side hit the target; both teams’ attacks stalled, leaving the scoreline at 0‑0 before the break. Manchester City had to wait until the 19th minute of the second half, when Tijjani Reijnders capped a crisp, well‑built move to give the visitors the lead.
Just six minutes later, Forest were back in the game when Omari Hutchinson knocked the ball in from close range after a tidy Igor Jesus cross. The equaliser left the City players scrambling for additional points.
With the clock winding down, Cherki, who had already assisted the opener, collected a corner and slid a low volley through the crowded penalty area for the decisive goal. His finish sealed the victory and the full three points for City.
The match kept the City‑Ground atmosphere subdued until the second half, when both teams found the net in quick succession. City’s first chance came early, with Callum Hudson‑Odoi delivering a dangerous cross that missed Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs‑White at the edge of the box. In the final seconds of the first period, Cherki missed the bar off a looping shot, while Haaland and Foden had their attempts blocked from solid positions.
After the break, a thoughtful City attack split the Forest defence. Cherki’s pass down the flank was met cleanly by Reijnders, who slid in a goal‑scoring run. The Frenchman then had a quick strike to almost double the lead, but John Victor tipped it onto the post.
Forest’s momentary advantage was short‑lived. Hutchinson finished a close‑range cross from Jesus, while a subsequent low drive by Neco Williams was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Nicola Savona’s follow‑up rebounded over the line.
Meanwhile, City’s defense stood firm, with Victor making a superb stop on Foden’s in‑box attempt. The final drama unfolded when a corner was cleared to Cherki, who struck his first‑time shot to the underside of the crossbar, sending the ball into the net.
With the win, Manchester City now sit at 40 points from 18 Premier League matches. The 2‑1 victory was City’s eighth on the bounce in the competition.
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