Nottingham Forest vs Man City LIVE!
Manchester City reached the FA Cup for a third successive season after they eased to a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Wembley. Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead inside two minutes to quickly establish control of the semi-final clash, as Rico Lewis took the ball on the edge of the area and drilled a finish into the bottom corner.
Forest barely laid a glove on City in the first-half but could have equalised seconds after the break when Anthony Elanga, a half-time change, found himself free in the box but could not hit the target. Josko Gvardiol doubled the lead with a header from a corner, leaving Forest with a mountain to climb, and they had little luck in their attempts to do so.
Morgan Gibbs-White smashed a stunning volley against the bar and was then denied by the post from a tight angle, before Taiwo Awoniyi also found the upright in his way as he reacted quickly to a rebound. Forest could not get the goal to set up a grandstand finish, as City booked their return to Wembley next month and a familiar stage, when they will take on Crystal Palace in the final.
Nottingham Forest vs Man City latest news
- GOAL! Gvardiol header doubles lead
- GOAL! Lewis strikes inside two minutes for Man City
FT: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:24 , Matt VerriThat’ll do it!
Man City are in the FA Cup final for the third season in a row.
They were too good for Forest, who did hit the woodwork three times as they tried to get back into the match.
Crystal Palace waiting for City on May 17.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:23 , Matt Verri90+3 mins: Ball bobbling around in the City box, Ortega can jump on it.
Launches the counter with Doku free on the left... that is until Jota arrives on the scene and cleans him out. Yellow card.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:20 , Matt Verri90 mins: Four minutes added on.
‘Now or never’ doesn’t really do it justice for Forest...
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:18 , Matt Verri89 mins: Kovacic off, just as he’s named player of the match. Been so impressive in midfield.
Gonzalez on for the final few minutes.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:16 , Matt Verri86 mins: City doing a good job of seeing these minutes out.
Forest have been much better this half and obviously have hit the woodwork three times, but you’d struggle to argue that this isn’t a fair result.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:1383 mins: Doku and Foden on for Savinho and Marmoush. Feels a bit unfair.
Jota is filling in at right-back and sure he’s thrilled to be up against Doku for these final ten minutes or so.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:10 , Matt Verri80 mins: How’s your luck?!
Ball drops for Awoniyi in the City box, turns an effort at goal and it bounces off the post... again!
Gibbs-White on the rebound, Ortega at full stretch to keep the header out.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:07 , Matt Verri78 mins: Elanga in a foot race with O’Reilly... not really where the City man wants to be.
Pulls Elanga back, shoves him and that’ll be a booking.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:05 , Matt Verri75 mins: City have regained control after that spell of Forest pressure. Kovacic is back to controlling it all in midfield.
Gundogan has added an extra body in midfield, too. So much experience.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
18:02 , Matt Verri72 mins: Sangare and Awoniyi on for Anderson and Wood, while Gundogan replaces Grealish.
Forest are a goal away from blowing this match wide open, but time is ticking away.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
17:59 , Matt Verri69 mins: AND NOW HE HITS THE POST!
Gibbs-White had to score. Gvardiol gives it away in his own box, Gibbs-White pounces and knocks it past Ortega.
Tight angle, finish is rolled across the face of goal and hits the far post!
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
17:57 , Matt Verri67 mins: Good spell this for Forest, they’re not done yet.
Anderson now with the shot from distance, but it’s dragged a long way wide.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
17:55 , Matt Verri65 mins: OFF THE BAR!
That would have made it very, very interesting. Gibbs-White with a sensational effort on the volley from just outside the area... SMACKS off the bar.
Cannot hit a ball better than that.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
17:52 , Matt Verri62 mins: Good defending from Murillo in his own box, but he can only head it behind for another Man City corner.
And Murillo is there again from the corner, flicking a header away.
City stay on the attack, Marmoush gets a shot away from a tight angle and it’s a sharp save from Sels.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
17:49 , Matt Verri59 mins: Elanga skips into space on the right, stands up a cross to the back post.
Wood isn’t there, though, and City can clear. Forest need something to flip the momentum... and soon.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
17:45 , Matt Verri55 mins: Very nearly 3-0, and that would have been game over.
Savinho with a brilliant run down the right, plays the ball across the face of goal and Marmoush can’t quite get the necessary touch.
Grealish then shown a yellow card for a high foot.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
17:43 , Matt Verri53 mins: That Elanga miss right at the start of the half feels like an even bigger moment now.
Lewis strolls forward in midfield, waits for the contact and wins a cheap free-kick.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City | Josko Gvardiol 51'
17:40 , Matt VerriAnd now Forest have big problems!
Such a frustrating goal for them to concede. Corner swung to the back post, Gvardiol gets up and it’s near enough a free header as he nods in from close range.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:39 , Matt Verri50 mins: So much more space on offer.
City can break, Lewis on the overlap and he plays it across the face of goal, scrambled away.
Back on the attack, Kovacic’s strike takes a big deflection... and Sels sticks a foot out to kick it away right on the line!
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:37 , Matt Verri48 mins: Already a different feel to this match.
Forest attacking the end where their fans are, and they are suddenly offering a real threat in wide areas.
We have a game on our hands...
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:36 , Matt Verri46 mins: HUGE CHANCE!
Elanga should score inside a minute! Hudson-Odoi with the low cross in, Elanga completely free but he can’t hit the target.
Massive moment.
Back underway!
17:35 , Matt VerriHere we go again.
No surprise that there’s a Forest change at the break. Danilo off, Elanga on. More pace and width to that team now.
Perfect start!
17:23 , Matt VerriKovacic with the pass, Lewis with the finish.
Man City could not have hoped for a better start at Wembley.
FIRST BLOOD TO MANCHESTER CITY! ⚽️🩵
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 27, 2025
Rico Lewis fires the sky blues ahead - what a start 🔥#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/U4i7pMdbJ7
HT: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:19 , Matt VerriRico Lewis’s strike inside two minutes set the tone.
1-0 down about as good as Forest could have hoped for in a half in which they didn’t really land a punch.
City much, much, much the better side.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:17 , Matt Verri45 mins: One minute added on.
Best news Forest have had all half.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:15 , Matt Verri43 mins: Nuno will surely have to change something at half-time. Almost impossible to see Forest getting back into this if the tactics stay like this.
Marmoush wins a free-kick out wide, another chance for City to put something into the box.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:12 , Matt Verri40 mins: Nunes has about three goes at dribbling past Anderson... fails on each attempt.
We’re back to the pattern of earlier in the match, when City are keeping the ball without any real trouble. Not creating much, but firmly in control.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:08 , Matt Verri36 mins: Forest are getting a bit further up the pitch out of possession, giving themselves a chance of winning it back in a dangerous area.
City, though, don’t particularly look like losing it. Ever.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:05 , Matt Verri33 mins: Sensational defending from Gvardiol... even if the offside flag does then go up.
Gibbs-White plays Hudson-Odoi in behind and the winger rolls the ball across the face of goal.
Wood waiting for a tap-in, but Gvardiol comes flying back to slide in and take it away from him.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
17:03 , Matt Verri31 mins: Savinho drifts into the box, Murillo across to boot the ball into him and behind for a goal-kick.
Defender then calls for more noise from the Forest fans behind that goal. Don’t think the noise is Forest’s main problem right now...
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:59 , Matt Verri27 mins: Really, really good from O'Reilly.
So strong to roll through a couple of challenges, works the space for the shot and tries his luck from 25 yards out.
Just dragged wide of the far post.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:56 , Matt Verri24 mins: It’s been a slightly more even match in the last few minutes or so. Bit scrappier, which is suiting Forest.
Dias gives away a cheap free-kick, so Forest have a chance to launch something into the box from deep.
Murillo takes, pinged to the back post. Milenkovic nods it down, but he was offside.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:53 , Matt Verri21 mins: Anderson tries to bundle his way through in the box, takes too long to get a shot away.
Gvardiol does enough to get back and stick a foot out, but it’s enough to get the Forest fans going again.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:50 , Matt Verri18 mins: Forest so deep that it’s not easy to break. Wood is near enough on the edge of his own box for the latest City attack.
Kovacic has been running the show so far. Tries a clever reverse ball through to Savinho in the box, Forest hack it away.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:47 , Matt Verri15 mins: At long last, some possession for Forest.
Ball drops for Gibbs-White on the edge of the area, he opts not to shoot and instead tries to slide through a cute pass. Doesn’t come off.
City straight up the other end, Marmoush lashes a strike miles over the bar.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:44 , Matt Verri12 mins: Free-kick for City out wide, up come the defenders again.
Marmoush takes... absolutely dreadful. Barely off the ground, barely reaches the first man.
Stats say City have had 87% of the ball. Not sure when that 13% for Forest was.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:42 , Matt Verri10 mins: Lovely feet again from Kovacic, dances into the box.
Forest just about scramble back and boot the ball behind for a corner. City are utterly dominant.
Sels off his line, bit of a slap but it’s good enough to flick the ball away.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:39 , Matt Verri7 mins: Forest have barely had a kick in the match.
City with all of the ball so far, knocking it around full of confidence. Feel like Forest need a bright moment on the counter just to get themselves going.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City
16:36 , Matt Verri4 mins: Well then, Forest have it all to do already.
City, as we expected, dominating the ball, but that early goal is huge. They don’t need to force anything now.
Won’t be any change of plan for Forest yet, though.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man City | Rico Lewis 2'
16:34 , Matt VerriSome start!
Kovacic jinks his way into space and fires a pass through the lines to Lewis.
Edge of the box, turns and lashes a low strike into the bottom corner.
KICK-OFF!
16:32 , Matt VerriUp and running at Wembley!
Handshakes between Guardiola and Nuno.
The Forest boss is wearing a massive coat in the Wembley sun. Fair to say he’s not feeling the heat of an FA Cup semi-fnal...
Here we go!
16:27 , Matt VerriTeams are out onto the pitch at Wembley.
Incredible atmosphere, particularly from the Forest end. Just a sea of red.
Silva on 'experience' advantage
16:20 , Matt VerriBernardo Silva has been asked ahead of kick-off whether Man City’s experience on the big stage gives them the edge this afternoon.
It is remarkably a seventh straight FA Cup semi-final for Pep Guardiola’s side.
“It can go both ways,” Silva says.
“You can say it’s an advantage because it’s an experience, you can say it’s an advantage for them because of the motivation of not being here for a long time.”
Not long now!
16:12 , Matt VerriJust under 20 minutes to go until kick-off at Wembley.
The pattern of play we can expect this afternoon is not particularly a secret. Man City will dominate the ball, Forest will sit back and pick their moments on the counter.
It worked for Nuno’s side last month when they beat City 1-0... what they would give for a repeat of that!
Nuno: Impossible to shield players from pressure
16:03 , Matt VerriNuno Espirito Santo has insisted he has no desire to shield his players from the pressure of this afternoon’s occasion, urging them to instead relish it.
“You don’t have to shield them, it is impossible to shield a squad of players when there is so much information and when it is such a special occasion for us,” he said.
“We have to enjoy it, but we have to go as a group of players and staff to compete.
“That’s the best way to enjoy the semi final of the FA Cup, if you are focused and committed to compete.”
Pre-match thoughts from Yates...
15:54 , Matt VerriThe Nottingham Forest captain won’t be on the pitch this afternoon, missing out through suspension.
But he’s been speaking ahead of kick-off, desperate for his team-mates to secure a Wembley return for the final.
A bittersweet moment for Forest captain Ryan Yates, who misses the FA Cup semifinal through suspension 💔
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 27, 2025
He's been at the club for 20 years...#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/DQgbMiWCho
Abbott starts for Forest
15:44 , Matt VerriOrtega in goal for Man City, with Ederson on the bench.
Grealish and Savinho both start, with De Bruyne and Foden among those on the bench.
In the Forest camp, it’s a huge afternoon for the teenager Abbott in defence. Just his second appearance of the season... and his first since August!
Nottingham Forest team news
15:35 , Matt VerriStarting XI: Sels, Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Toffolo, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Subs: Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Moreno, Jota, Elanga, Sosa, Boly
Man City team news
15:32 , Matt VerriStarting XI: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Lewis, Kovacic, Bernardo, Savinho, Grealish, Marmoush
Subs: Ederson, Doku, Nico, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Reis, Akanji, Khusanov, Foden
In the building!
15:16 , Matt VerriThe Forest players have arrived at Wembley...
Ola Aina has got his programme 👀#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/sCtnUE1sk5
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 27, 2025
Palace march on!
15:05 , Matt VerriCrystal Palace swatted Aston Villa aside in yesterday’s semi-final.
The Eagles will return to Wembley for the final - they are within touching distance of a first piece of major silverware.
Nottingham Forest and Man City will have other ideas...
Guardiola: We will learn from Forest defeat
14:54 , Matt VerriMan City were beaten 1-0 when these sides met at the City Ground last month, and Pep Guardiola is keen for his side to have that firmly in their minds.
“When we arrive at Wembley it’ll be about preparing as best as possible and remembering the game we played at Forest away,” he said.
“We will learn from that, what they can do and try to let the players feel the type of game we’re going to face.”
All eyes on Wembley!
14:44It’s a glorious day in London.
Maybe a bit too glorious if you’re doing the marathon, but ideal for sitting in the Wembley stands....
The stage is set. 🏟️✨ pic.twitter.com/Z6GApJfgtD
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 27, 2025
Standard Sport prediction
14:35 , Matt VerriIt would not be a surprise if the game follows a pattern where Man City dominate possession for large spells and Forest soak up the pressure and look to hit on the counter. This tactic worked to perfection in the league meeting not so long ago with Callum Hudson-Odoi netting a late winner.
However, Wembley is a much bigger pitch and the fact that Guardiola’s side are more used to this occasion could prove decisive. We’re going for a tight encounter with City winning, but only just.
Man City to win 1-0
Man City team news
14:27 , Matt VerriManchester City have injury doubts over Ederson for this afternoon’s clash.
Ederson has missed last two games with a recurring groin injury and back-up Stefan Ortega could start in goal at Wembley.
Pep Guardiola said on Friday that he was unsure if Ederson would be fit.
“We’ll see,” the City boss said on Friday when asked if Ederson could play against Forest. “Eddie is coming back training a little bit. But I don’t know if he’ll be ready for this game, hopefully the next one.”
City look set to again be without defenders John Stones and Nathan Ake despite the pair ramping up their respective returns from thigh and foot issues, though they at least suffered no fresh injury worries in the midweek defeat of fellow FA Cup semi-finalists Villa.
Predicted Man City XI: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Gonzalez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Savinho, Marmoush
Nottingham Forest team news
14:19 , Matt VerriForest will be without key duo Ryan Yates and Neco Williams because of suspension.
Ola Aina is a massive doubt with a calf problem that has sidelined the defender since the 1-0 win over Manchester United at the beginning of the month.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Man City
14:12 , Matt VerriTV channel: The game will be broadcast on ITV1 which is free to air for UK viewers. Coverage starts at 3.30pm BST ahead of an 4.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: ITVX will offer a live stream service.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us!
Good afternoon!
14:02 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Nottingham Forest vs Man City!
It’s the second of the FA Cup semi-finals, as these two sides look to book their place in the final against Crystal Palace.
Forest having a superb season, City looking to salvage something from their campaign... there’s plenty of intrigue.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4:30pm BST from Wembley!
