Wasteful Nottingham Forest took a step away from safety while fortunate Manchester City another step toward a fourth-straight Premier League title in a 2-0 win at the City Ground on Sunday.
Kevin De Bruyne assisted goals from Josko Gvardiol and returning super sub Erling Haaland to give City all three points, as the three-time defending champions moved a point back of Arsenal with a match-in-hand and lowered the goal differential gap to seven between the sides.
WATCH NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs MANCHESTER CITY FULL MATCH REPLAY
But Forest actually won the xG battle and out-attempted City 15-10, missing several big chances with a couple surprisingly coming by way of in-form leading scorer Chris Wood.
Forest’s 26 points are just one more than 18th-place Luton Town and two ahead of 19th-place Burnley as the three teams jockey for just one spot in the 2024-25 Premier League season. All three teams have three games to go and Forest travel to Burnley on Championship Sunday.
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Missed Forest chances could also haunt Arsenal
You rarely see Manchester City give up this many big chances against anyone, let alone a lower-half side, and Forest will be lamenting points that could’ve seen them much closer to Premier League safety and also swung the Premier League title race away from history. Instead, Manchester City keep hold of their title fate, as three wins will make anything done by Arsenal irrelevant to the first four-peat in Premier League history.
For what it’s worth, Erling Haaland’s return to the field saw a hungry substitute who wants to defend his Golden Boot title. Should he find starter’s fitness for the final three games — and should Phil Foden get over the illness that stopped him from being in the 18 — this whole title thing might be in the bag.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City player ratings (via fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Could Forest get a lifeline from already-relegated Sheffield United? The Tricky Trees go to Bramall Lane at 10am ET Saturday.
City are home to Wolves at 12:30pm the same day.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 11:30 am ET, Sunday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream live via NBC.com
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City live updates — By Nick Mendola
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City final score: 0-2
Goalscorers: Gvardiola (32'), Haaland (71')
KDB —> Haaland — Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City (71st minute)
Kevin De Bruyne sends Erling Haaland into the 18, as the Norwegian scoots past injured Murillo and rolls it far side past Mats Sels.
Normal service resumed after a rough period.
City look tired, enter Haaland
It is certainly over-simplifying to some degree, but City do look like a team that played Thursday away to a team that had a week to stew on what it believed to be officiating injustice.
Erling Haaland will enter now to try and fix that, his first action since the Champions League.
A third huge miss for Chris Wood
Anthony Elanga has set up the club’s leading scorer on the doorstep, but Chris Wood has again flubbed his line, a low shot blocked by Josko Gvardiol.
Elanga toasted Kyle Walker to set up the chance. Nervy.
Changes — Ederson injury, Doku off for midfield help
Ederson cannot continue through injury and Stefan Ortega will take his place, while Mateo Kovacic enters for Jeremy Doku to thicken up the midfield.
Halftime — Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
Forest have been the more dangerous side!
Yes, of course City has had the ball to the tune of 2/3 possession, but Forest’s eight shots out-pace City by one.
And the xG belongs to Forest by a surprising 1.31-0.29.
A Josko Gvardiola header off a Kevin De Bruyne corner kick — the Belgian’s seventh assist of the PL season — is the difference.
Wood flubs monumental chance to equalize
Gonzalo Montiel takes a huge cross from the left and cuts it back for Chris Wood.
He’s alone outside the six, and he gets barely any of the ball. Oof. Should be 1-1.
Josko Gvardiol goal! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City (32nd minute)
It’s a set-piece goal, and Forest have seen a lot of those.
Josko Gvardiol gets to the front post and nods home.
Free kicks for both sides
Morgan Gibbs-White can’t keep a dangerous Forest free kick under the bar, and now it’s Man City’s turn.
Kevin De Bruyne’s effort is headed over by Forest back Murillo. Key intervention. Corner.
Huge early miss for Forest!
The first minute saw Ola Aina drive the left side and stand up a cross toward the back post.
Nico Williams doesn’t fully see it and can only get a substandard piece of the ball.
That would’ve sent a message.
Foden out, Haaland fit for the bench
Premier League Golden Boot co-leader Erling Haaland could appear off the bench but there’s a surprise omission from the Man City 18, and that’s ill Phil Foden (rhyme, at least initially, unintended).
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Aina, Murillo, Boly, Williams, Niakhate, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Wood
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Doku, Grealish, Alvarez
Nottingham Forest focus, team news
OUT: Taiwo Awoniyi (undisclosed), Willy Boly (undisclosed)
Manchester City focus, team news
QUESTIONABLE: Erling Haaland (knock)
