Nottingham Forest edged Manchester City 1-0 at City Ground, surging closer to Champions League qualification as Callum Hudson-Odoi struck a dramatic late winner.
Hudson-Odoi sealed victory in the 82nd minute, first collecting Morgan Gibbs-White’s precise pass, then darting into the box before rifling past Ederson at the near post.
This victory solidified Forest’s third-place standing, now four points above City and five clear of Chelsea with 10 games left.
Manchester City’s ninth league defeat—their highest since 2019/20—jeopardized their European hopes as inconsistent form threatens a top-four exit.
### A Tactical Battle
The match began with City asserting early dominance in possession, as Guardiola’s side looked to impose themselves on the game. Forest, however, opted for a disciplined defensive setup, sitting deep and seeking opportunities on the counter-attack.
Within 15 minutes, Manchester City threatened early as Haaland fired wide and González’s long strike brushed the post.
While City dominated, Forest fans honored ex-captain Stuart Pearce, recovering after falling ill mid-flight last weekend.
City pressed relentlessly as Foden forced a blocked shot before Silva fired over from the Englishman’s cutback.
However, Forest’s defense held firm, and the hosts went into halftime without having registered a single meaningful attack.
### Forest’s Second-Half Resurgence
After the break, Forest emerged with renewed intent. Nico Dominguez tested Ederson with a volley at the back post following an excellent cross from Anthony Elanga.
Moments later, Hudson-Odoi nearly broke the deadlock, curling a fierce strike which Ederson spectacularly palmed onto the post.
Responding swiftly, Guardiola substituted De Bruyne and Marmoush to energize City’s attack. However, Marmoush squandered two chances, skewing one wide and directing another at Sels.
### Hudson-Odoi Delivers
With time running out, it was Forest who found the breakthrough. Gibbs-White delivered an inch-perfect pass to Hudson-Odoi on the right flank.
The winger surged into the penalty area and, with precision and confidence, squeezed his shot past Ederson at the near post.
While Ederson had earlier made an outstanding save to deny Hudson-Odoi, this moment will undoubtedly haunt the Brazilian goalkeeper.
City struggled to muster a meaningful response in the closing stages as Forest’s defense held firm.
The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations among the home supporters, who are beginning to dream of European nights at the City Ground.
The victory not only bolsters Nottingham Forest’s top-four ambitions but also serves as a statement of intent from Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
With 10 games left to play, Forest’s belief in achieving Champions League qualification is growing stronger by the week.
For Manchester City, however, this defeat raises serious concerns about their ability to secure European football next season.
Guardiola’s men will need to regroup quickly if they are to salvage their campaign and avoid missing out on a top-four finish.
As the Premier League season approaches its climax, all eyes will be on both teams as they navigate their respective battles for European qualification.
For now, though, it is Nottingham Forest who are firmly in control of their destiny.
