Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley on Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s side will face Crystal Palace in the final on Saturday, May 17.
Rico Lewis scored early and Josko Gvardiol headed home in the second half as City completed a professional victory, but Nottingham Forest did cause them some problems in the second half.
Morgan Gibbs-White hit the woodwork twice in the second half with Taiwo Awoniyi also hitting the post as Forest chucked everything at City but just had an off-day and no luck.
It’s clear City will be the favorites to win the FA Cup final against Palace and given all of the injuries and poor form this season if they do win the trophy and qualify for the Champions League it would be a great achievement.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City score: 0-2
Lewis 2', Gvardiol 51'
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Awoniyi hits the post!
Forest have hit the post again. A cross comes in and Taiwo Awoniyi hits the post from close range and Ortega saves the rebound. Forest having a real go late on.
Gibbs-White hits the post!
Moments after smashing the bar, Gvardiola is caught on the ball and Morgan Gibbs-White rounds Ortega but his shot hits the far post. He should score. Forest can’t believe it.
Gibbs-White smashes the crossbar!
What an incredible hit from Morgan Gibbs-White. A cross comes in and he hammers a volley towards goal but it smacks the crossbar and flies out.
A sensational effort from Morgan Gibbs-White crashes off the bar 😱#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/DiOIXm8BmQ
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 27, 2025
Sels denies Marmoush
Lovely play from Grealish to set up Marmoush and his shot is going in but Sels pushes it over. City pushing hard for a third now.
Gvardiol heads home from a corner! — Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
From that corner City do double their lead, with Marmoush whipping in a perfect delivery and Josko Gvardiol beats Murillo to it and powers the header home into the far corner. City’s fans go bonkers.
Joško Gvardiol with a bullet header for @ManCity 💪
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 27, 2025
The delivery from Omar Marmoush 👏#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/2ukvwcxBFT
Sels somehow denies Kovacic
Sels saves a shot from Nunes and the rebound from Kovacic hits Abbott and sends Sels the wrong way... but somehow the Forest goalkeeper saves it on the line with his feet. City want a penalty for handball but nothing is given. So close to 2-0 for City!
Elanga on for Danilo at half time... and he should make it 1-1!
Okay, Forest are going for it. Elanga is on at the break and is playing on the right wing. Hudson-Odoi whips in a brilliant cross from the left and Elanga is unmarked from six yards out but somehow slots his shot wide. It looked certain Forest would make it 1-1.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
That early goal from Rico Lewis is the difference as Forest started sluggishly and were punished. But fair play to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. They’ve settled their nerves and have dragged themselves back into the game. Intriguing second half coming up as Forest have to go for it now.
Wood almost scores but the offside flag is up
Forest finally create a chance with Hudson-Odoi getting behind City and crossing for Wood. His effort deflects wide under a hefty challenge and the offside flag is up anyway. Much better from Forest though.
Nico O’Reilly fires wide
After a mazy run and some lovely skill, Nico O’Reilly fires just wide. Man City looking very dangerous every time they come forward. Forest have settled into the game a bit after a poor start.
Rico Lewis fires home inside two minutes! — Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
Kovacic tees up Rico Lewis on the edge of the box and he tees himself up perfectly to smash home a low shot. City 1-0 up inside the first two minutes and they’ve scored with the first shot of the game.
He's one of their own 🩵
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 27, 2025
Local lad, Rico Lewis gives @ManCity the dream start ⚡️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/0gPa7NEmNk
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels; Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Toffolo; Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Danilo, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Manchester City lineup
Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Lewis, Kovacic; Savinho, Bernardo Silva, Grealish; Marmoush
Nottingham Forest team news
OUT: Eric da Silva Moreira (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Jota Silva (knock), Ola Aina (calf)
Manchester City team news
OUT: Erling Haaland (ankle - MORE) John Stones (thigh), Rodri (torn ACL - MORE), Nathan Ake (ankle), Ederson (muscular)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City prediction
The belief that City took from Matheus Nunes’ stoppage-time winner to beat Aston Villa on Tuesday will carry them over the line, but just barely. Manchester City 2-1 Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City preview
Man City have been in the last two FA Cup finals (winners in 2023, runners-up in 2024) and would very much like to round off their disappointing season with another celebration at Wembley (they have won two FA Cups and four League Cups under Guardiola already). Despite losing Erling Haaland to an ankle injury in their quarterfinal victory over Bournemouth last month, City are unbeaten in their last five games in the Premier League (4W-1D-0L) and have only failed to score multiple goals once — in the dire Manchester derby that ended 0-0. City’s last defeat came at the hands of Nottingham Forest, though, back on March 8, when Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the only goal in the 83rd minute.
While City haven’t won a trophy since last May, it’s been a 35-year wait for Forest, who haven’t enjoyed any shiny silverware since they won the League Cup in 1990. In fact, three of the sides in the semifinals haven’t won a trophy since the 90s (at least). Aston Villa won the League Cup in 1996 and Crystal Palace have never won a major trophy in their 119-year history. Qualifying for the UEFA Champions League would be an incredible “consolation” prize should Forest fall short in the last two rounds, but their defend-and-counter playing style would appear to lend itself to knockout competitions far more than the marathon of a 38-game PL season.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30 am ET Sunday
Venue: Wembley Stadium — London
Streaming: ESPN+
