Forest winger, Callum Hudson-Odoi struck late to earn Nottingham Forest a dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester City, delivering a crucial blow to Pep Guardiola’s Champions League ambitions. His composed finish, set up by a brilliant Morgan Gibbs-White long-range pass, sent the City Ground into raptures as Forest strengthened their grip on a top-four spot.
In a game touted as a pivotal battle for European qualification, City dominated possession but lacked the cutting edge to break down Forest’s resolute defence. The visitors’ best chance of the first half came from Nico González, whose powerful strike flew just wide. Forest, meanwhile, offered little going forward until Nico Domínguez forced Ederson into action early in the second half.
Hudson-Odoi was the spark Forest needed. The winger came close midway through the second period, only for Ederson to push his low shot onto the post.
But with just seven minutes left, he latched onto Gibbs-White’s pinpoint ball, drove into the box, and fired past the City keeper at his near post. The stadium erupted as Forest took a massive step toward securing their first Champions League place since 1980-81.
City, meanwhile, slumped to their ninth league defeat of the season, matching their worst tally under Guardiola. The frustration was evident as the manager urged his players to increase the tempo, but they struggled to break through. Their final chance fell to Mateo Kovačić, who drilled a shot inches wide in stoppage time.
This loss leaves City still fourth, however now vulnerable to being overtaken by Chelsea, while Forest now sit four points clear in third. With just weeks left in the season, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have put themselves in prime position for European glory, while Guardiola faces the very real threat of missing out on the Champions League for the first time in his City tenure.
