FT – Premier League 2025–26
Date: Saturday, 27 December 2025
Nottingham Forest hosted Manchester City at the City Ground in a key Premier League 2025–26 clash on 27 December 2025, and Manchester City came away with a 2–1 victory, thanks to a late winner that kept their title hopes alive in the mid-season race.
Reijnders Puts City Ahead After the Break
The match remained goalless until early in the second half, with both teams probing yet struggling to carve out clear chances in the first 45 minutes. Manchester City looked in control of possession but were kept at bay by Forest’s compact defensive line.
City finally broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when Tijjani Reijnders fired home after a neat passing move. The Dutch midfielder capitalized on a clever through ball from Rayan Cherki, finishing low into the net and giving Pep Guardiola’s side the lead.
Forest responded with urgency after going behind, aiming to bounce back quickly in front of their home supporters.
Hutchinson Restores Parity
Nottingham Forest showed excellent resolve and equalized in the 54th minute. Omari Hutchinson found space following a swift Forest counter-attack, finishing clinically past the City goalkeeper. The move was built on strong interplay between Morgan Gibbs-White and Hutchinson, who combined to carve open the City defense.
With the score at 1-1, the contest opened up as both teams sought decisive moments, creating an end-to-end atmosphere at the City Ground.
Cherki Steals It Late for City
As the match entered its closing stages, City began to regain momentum. The breakthrough arrived in the 83rd minute when Rayan Cherki struck from the edge of the area with a low, powerful finish that nestled into the corner of the net. His long-awaited Premier League goal proved to be the match-winner and underlined his growing influence at City this season.
Cherki’s contribution — both creating and scoring — highlighted his blossoming role under Guardiola, and the goal ultimately proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
Key Performances
- Rayan Cherki (Manchester City): The French midfielder delivered a standout performance, both with the assist for the opener and the late winning strike, showing creativity and composure.
- Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City): His early second-half goal set the tone for City’s victory and demonstrated his value linking midfield to attack.
- Omari Hutchinson (Nottingham Forest): A bright spark for Forest, Hutchinson’s equalizer showcased intelligent movement and clinical finishing.
- Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest): Both creative and industrious in midfield, Gibbs-White was central to Forest’s attacking play.
What the Result Means
The final whistle confirmed a 2–1 victory for Manchester City, a result that helped maintain their strong challenge in the Premier League title race as 2025 drew to a close. Forest, meanwhile, fought valiantly but were ultimately undone by City’s quality in key moments.