On 27 April 2025, at a packed Wembley Stadium, Manchester City defeated Nottingham Forest 2–0 in the FA Cup semi-final, booking their place in a third consecutive final. Pep Guardiola’s side will now face Crystal Palace, who beat Aston Villa 3–0 in the other semi-final. Below, we break down the full match in detail: highlights, predictions, lineups, results, and more.
Nottm Forest vs Man City Highlights
- City opened the scoring in just the 2nd minute through Rico Lewis, who pounced on a loose ball in the box
- Forest attempted to regroup but found it difficult to break down City’s organized defense.
- In the 51st minute, Josko Gvardiol made it 2–0 with a powerful header from an Oussama Idrissi cross.
- Forest hit the woodwork three times during the match.
- Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi each struck the post.
- A third attempt also narrowly missed, underlining their unlucky finishing.
Nottm Forest vs Man City Highlights Prediction
The FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest ended with a 2–0 victory for City at Wembley. The match saw Rico Lewis open the scoring just two minutes in, capitalising on a defensive lapse to give City the perfect start. In the second half, Josko Gvardiol doubled the lead in the 51st minute with a commanding header, securing City’s place in the final. Gvardiol’s all-around performance earned him the Man of the Match accolade, thanks to his defensive solidity and crucial goal.
Despite the result, Nottingham Forest can hold their heads high. They showed plenty of attacking intent and bravery, striking the woodwork three times and pushing City for large parts of the game. Their finishing let them down, but their energy and structure caused problems for Guardiola’s side. After the match, Pep Guardiola praised Forest, calling them “one of the best counter-attacking sides we’ve faced this season.” Ultimately, while City were clinical and composed, Forest were simply unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
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Nottm Forest vs Man City Highlights Live
Broadcast in the UK: ITV1 and ITVX (online stream).
Available in Ireland: Premier Sports 1.
Live commentary: BBC Sport, Guardian Football, and Sky Sports News.
Fan engagement: Social media blew up with over 2 million live tweets tagged #FACup and #NottmForestVsManCity.
Nottm Forest vs Man City Highlights Lineups
| Nottingham Forest | Manchester City |
| M. Turner (GK) | Ederson (GK) |
| S. Aurier, J. Worrall (C), M. Niakhaté | Rúben Dias, J. Gvardiol, K. Walker |
| Danilo, Mangala, Gibbs-White | Rodri, K. De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva |
| T. Awoniyi, C. Hudson-Odoi, A. Elanga | J. Grealish, R. Lewis, E. Haaland |
Forest deployed a 4-3-3, hoping to exploit City’s high line on the counter.
City maintained their signature possession-based 3-2-4-1 formation.
Substitutions:
- Forest: Yates, Origi, and Domínguez came on in the second half.
- City: Foden, Doku, and Álvarez entered to keep the tempo high.
Nottm Forest vs Man City Match Stats
| Stat | Nottm Forest | Man City |
| Possession | 38% | 62% |
| Total Shots | 11 | 16 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 5 |
| Woodwork Hits | 3 | 0 |
| Pass Accuracy | 81% | 91% |
| Corners | 4 | 7 |
| Fouls | 11 | 9 |
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While City controlled most metrics, Forest were unlucky, particularly with three near-goals hitting the post or bar.
Nottm Forest vs Man City Results
Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup final with a composed 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest, thanks to early goals from Rico Lewis and a second-half header by Josko Gvardiol, who was named Man of the Match for his standout performance.
While City were clinical and controlled, Forest showed spirit and created chances, striking the woodwork three times but ultimately falling short. Pep Guardiola praised Forest’s effort, calling them one of the best counter-attacking sides his team has faced this season.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, Manchester City will return to Wembley for the FA Cup Final 2025, where they will face Crystal Palace in what promises to be an exciting showdown. With their experience and depth, City will go into the final as favourites, aiming to lift the prestigious trophy once again and complete another successful domestic campaign under Pep Guardiola.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest will shift their focus back to the Premier League, where they remain in contention for a top-six finish. Under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest have transformed from relegation contenders into genuine challengers for European qualification, and despite their FA Cup exit, their season is far from over.
