Manchester City left the City Ground with all three points, but it took patience, grit, and a flash of pure quality to get there. A late strike from Rayan Cherki sealed a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in a tight Premier League contest on 27 December 2025. The margin was slim. The moment was huge. And the message was clear: Pep Guardiola’s side are still hunting the top spot and keeping the heat on Arsenal.

For long stretches, Forest stood firm and frustrated the visitors. The first half ended 0-0, with just one minute added. But City stayed calm. When the chance finally came late in the second half, Cherki took it with a cool, clean hit into the bottom corner. It was the difference in a game that balanced on details.

Rayan Cherki’s late magic at the City Ground

Sometimes one moment defines a match. This was it. Cherki, the young attacking spark in light blue, found space and drove his shot into the lower corner. As one match report put it, “Rayan Cherki produces more magic for Manchester City as he drills his effort into the bottom corner of the goal.” Another added, he “showcases his brilliance once again … putting Pep Guardiola’s team ahead 2-1 against Nottingham Forest in the latter stages of the second half.”

It was a simple finish, but a very smart one: low, precise, and out of the goalkeeper’s reach. City had searched for that tiny gap all afternoon. Cherki saw it, and he did not miss.

“Cherki just changed the title race with one touch.”

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City: a first-half stalemate

The opening 45 minutes were about shape and focus. Forest made it a battle in the middle of the pitch, closing space and doubling up when City tried to play between the lines. City, as always, kept the ball and looked for angles. But the final pass was not quite there. The first half ended 0-0 after a single minute of added time, and the crowd could feel the tension growing.

In games like this, patience is not just a good idea; it is the plan. City did not rush. They trusted their rhythm. Forest kept their heads and waited for breaks. It set up a second half where one mistake or one flash could settle it. In the end, the flash won.

Forest’s fight, recent form, and the fine margins

Forest came into the day with a mixed run. They had lost 1-0 to Fulham, then blown past Tottenham 3-0. They had only one win in their last seven meetings with City before this one, but they did not back down in front of their home fans. The City Ground was loud. The red shirts were bold and brave.

Even with the defeat, there are positives for the hosts. They took a heavy favorite to the wire, matched the effort, and made City work very hard. That matters over a long season, especially with tight tables and winter schedules. Forest leave with 18 points and a 5-3-9 record, but also with the belief that they can punch with the best when the plan is clear and the energy is high.

“Forest were brave, but City found a champion’s moment.”

Premier League stakes: City’s points, pressure, and pursuit

For Manchester City, the win matters in more ways than one. It lifts them to 37 points with a 12-1-4 record. It keeps them tight to the top and puts more pressure on Arsenal. City were looking to stack another league victory onto a growing run, and they did just that. Winning away at a noisy ground, in an early kick-off, right after a tight first half — that is how title chases are built.

Sometimes the table is shaped by big scorelines. Often, though, it is shaped by afternoons like this: keep calm, trust your stars, and take the one big chance when it comes.

Early kick-off, big outcome: 12:30 start at City Ground

This match started early and never felt slow. Kick-off was 12:30 UTC / 12:30pm GMT / 07:30am ET, and from the first whistle the City Ground was ready. Early games can be tricky. Legs are heavy. Touch can be off. City did not have it all their way, especially in that first half. But as the minutes ticked by, they tightened the screw and trusted their patterns.

Guardiola’s side are used to being chased. They are used to being the ones who must find answers. Cherki found one, and the rest of the team did the hard work to make sure it counted.

“If this is City at 12:30, imagine them in full gear.”

What we learned at Nottingham: control, belief, and one clean strike

There was no flood of goals here, but there was a clear lesson. City do not need to be flashy for 90 minutes. They need to be ready for one key moment. Cherki gave them that moment with a shot into the bottom corner. The quotes around his goal say it all: it was “more magic,” it was “brilliance,” and it came when the match felt like it could tilt either way.

Forest, for their part, showed spirit and togetherness that they can carry into the next fixtures. Matches swing on inches. On this day, those inches belonged to City.

Final word: City’s narrow win keeps the chase hot

Manchester City did not blow the doors off. They did not need to. They found a late winner, held their nerve, and left Nottingham with a 2-1 victory that keeps them moving with purpose. For the champions, that is the job. For Forest, the challenge is to turn brave displays into points more often.

In a season where every point matters, this felt like three very big ones. City keep climbing. Forest keep fighting. The title race stays hot.