Rayan Cherki struck a late winner as Manchester City edged past a spirited Nottingham Forest side, extending their winning run and briefly moving above Arsenal at the top end of the Premier League table.
The significance of the goal was clear from the reaction on the City bench and in goal. Gianluigi Donnarumma sprinted towards Pep Guardiola, who was engulfed by his coaching staff, including Kolo Touré, Pep Lijnders and set-piece coach James French. French appeared to be the architect of the corner routine that led to the decisive moment, with Phil Foden delivering the ball that eventually fell for Cherki.
The City forward drove a right-footed shot through the legs of Morgan Gibbs-White and into the corner of the Forest net, sealing a 2–1 victory after Omari Hutchinson had earlier cancelled out Tijjani Reijnders’ opener.
Guardiola had set the tone before kick-off with a light-hearted warning to his squad about festive excess, joking that he would weigh his players after Christmas. “Only the manager is overweight – the rest are perfect,” he said. City arrived at the City Ground in ominous form and the win marked their eighth consecutive victory in all competitions, including six straight league wins.
The occasion carried emotional weight for Nottingham Forest following the death of club legend John Robertson at the age of 72. Floral tributes lined the stadium gates, players and staff wore black armbands and a montage honouring Robertson was shown on the big screens before kick-off. Supporters unfurled banners celebrating his legacy, including one in the Bridgford Stand — soon to be renamed in his honour — quoting Brian Clough’s famous description of Robertson as “the Picasso of our game”.
Forest matched City’s intensity early on, with much of the first half defined by a physical battle between striker Igor Jesus and City centre-backs Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol. From the opening moments, Igor Jesus tested the defenders with his aggression and movement, forcing early fouls and unsettling City’s back line. Gvardiol was fortunate to escape harsher punishment after being booked, while Dias also went into the referee’s notebook.
The home side created the first clear opportunity, with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s dangerous cross causing chaos in the City six-yard box. Igor Jesus and Gibbs-White both failed to apply the finish, while Hutchinson lurked nearby as Forest came agonisingly close.
Despite the tempo, chances were scarce before the break. Neither side managed a shot on target in the first half, and Erling Haaland endured a quiet opening period, registering just six touches. His most notable contribution was a clever dummy that drew appreciative chants from the visiting supporters.
City finally broke the deadlock just over two minutes into the second half. Gvardiol picked out Cherki between the lines, and the Frenchman slipped a precise pass behind Nikola Milenkovic for Reijnders, who finished low past John Victor with composure. Guardiola’s celebration was telling, sprinting down the touchline and embracing Lijnders as relief washed over the City bench.
For a brief spell, City appeared in control. Cherki nearly doubled the lead with a curling effort that forced Victor into a fingertip save onto the post. However, Forest refused to fold and were rewarded with an equaliser midway through the half.
Gibbs-White drifted into space on the left and found Igor Jesus, whose superb cross was met by Hutchinson at the edge of the area. The winger, signed from Ipswich for £37.5 million in the summer, finished confidently to score his first goal for Forest and reignite the contest.
As the match entered its closing stages, the tension was palpable. Forest pressed bravely, but City’s quality told in the decisive moment. From Foden’s corner, Cherki found space and struck cleanly, his shot slipping past defensive legs and beyond Victor to restore City’s lead.
Forest pushed for a second equaliser, but City held firm to secure another hard-earned victory. Cherki’s winner ensured Guardiola’s side maintained their relentless momentum, while Forest were left to reflect on a bold performance that ultimately went unrewarded.