Manchester City booked their spot in the FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over a spirited Nottingham Forest side at Wembley.
Forest were on the back foot from the off as the occasion threatened to overwhelm them, with Rico Lewis firing City ahead inside the opening two minutes.
They improved after the restart but Josko Gvardiol’s thumping header shortly after half-time meant Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had a mountain to climb, and despite hitting the woodwork three times - twice through Morgan Gibbs-White - they were unable to find their way back into the game.
Victory puts Manchester City into a third successive FA Cup final and Pep Guardiola’s side will face Crystal Palace at Wembley in the showpiece on 17 May. The same day they were dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool, who stormed past Tottenham 5-1 in the top flight, the seven-time FA Cup champions ensured they still have a chance of silverware this season.
Follow all of the latest from the FA Cup semi-final with our live blog below:
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE
- Nottingham Forest take on Manchester City for a place in the FA Cup final | Live on ITV with kick off at 4.30pm BST
- Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Danilo, Toffolo, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
- Manchester City XI: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Lewis, Kovacic, Bernardo, Savinho, Grealish, Marmoush
- '2 GOAL! City make dream start as Lewis slots home early opener [NFO 0-1 MCI]
- '46 CHANCE! Electric Elanga nearly scores with first touch after the break [NFO 0-1 MCI]
- '51 GOAL! Gvardiol heads in from close range to double City's lead [NFO 0-2 MCI]
- '65 HITS THE WOODWORK! Incredible Gibbs-White volley thunders off the crossbar [NFO 0-2 MCI]
- '69 HITS THE WOODWORK! Gibbs-White hits the far post with tight-angled attempt [NFO 0-2 MCI]
Nottingham Forest FC 0 - 2 Manchester City FC
'Three FA Cup finals in a row, it's amazing' - Guardiola
20:29 , Flo Clifford“We are in the final so if you said three years ago you would reach three FA Cup finals in a row, come on. It's amazing,” Guardiola tells ITV.
“Now we have four finals to go in the Premier League and we have to recover and go again against Wolves.”
On Mateo Kovacic, who was deemed man of the match, he adds: “Kovacic is extraordinary. The last three or four games have been amazing. At his age he cannot play every three days but we are lucky to have time to recover. We need him for the quality and composure that he has.”
'Devastating' loss - Gibbs-White
20:00 , Flo Clifford“It's devastating,” the Forest captain adds. “I feel sorry for the fans. I hold my hands up and apologise. I should have scored at least one of them [chances].
“The support never stopped until the very last second and we thank the fans for that because they have been so consistent with us throughout the season.
“I'm lost for words really. I'm sad to go out like that. We gave it our everything but we keep going. We've still got the Premier League to focus on.”
On his second chance, which hit the post: "I should score that one. I go around the keeper and if I score that gives everyone in the stadium energy to try and go again. Even though we were 2-0 down we showed resilience and kept fighting. That is the main thing.”
'Five big finals' left for Nottingham Forest - Gibbs-White
19:51 , Flo Clifford“We have a game plan that everyone believes in and sticks to,” Gibbs-White says. “We executed it well in the first half. We nullified them apart from their goal. And the main thing is that we came out fighting in the second half.
“Anthony [Elanga] is a big threat for us and he showed that in the second half. We've got to put this behind us now and focus on the league. Five big finals. We are going to give it our absolute everything and hope for the best."
Gibbs-White 'had a feeling it wasn't our day' with narrow crossbar miss
19:44 , Flo Clifford“I think if we get a goal then we get another one,” Morgan Gibbs-White tells ITV. “That was just the flow in the game at the moment. We had a few good chances that we didn't make the most of and all I can put that down to is that it wasn't our day.
“Especially with my weak foot, I’ve never hit a ball like that in my life. As soon as that hit the crossbar I had a feeling it wasn’t our day.”
Semi-final win 'shows the character' City have - Lewis
19:30 , Flo Clifford“It means a lot,” Lewis continues, when asked what making the final means to City.
“It shows the character that the whole squad has. We can go on about excuses but it wasn't good enough at the start of the season and now we're picking ourselves back up and we've got momentum.
“We've got the chance of a trophy now and hopefully be in the top four to take into next season.”
'I had a feeling I was going to score today' - Rico Lewis
19:22 , Flo Clifford“I had a feeling I was going to score today, speaking to all my mates on my phone, but obviously not that early,” Rico Lewis tells BBC Sport.
“I just thought 'hit it and see what happens'. As soon as it left my foot I felt like it was going to go in.
“Before the game the manager said when you get in those spaces the centre-backs won't jump to you and I checked before Kovacic gave it to me, so I just turned and the turn was good enough to set me up for the shot straight away. The touch was the most important bit, but it was a nice goal.
“It is amazing, a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life.”
'We gave it our all' - Nuno
19:14 , Flo Clifford“We had good situations,” Nuno continues.
“City started really well, they caused a lot of problems and scoring with the first chance changes everything.
“The reaction was good, it was fine margins. We performed well and competed against a very good team that has talented players.
“They make it really hard to revert the result. The effort was there. The fans stayed with us until the end of the game. We gave it our all.”
'Tomorrow is a new day' - Nuno Espirito Santo
19:04 , Flo CliffordNuno cuts a philosophical figure after that defeat. Asked on BBC Sport whether he regrets not starting Elanga, he says: “I regret so many things in my life, but that is not the point. It is about having a squad to manage the situations that we have to attend to and the absences.
“Anthony came really well and strong to the game and created difficulties. When we look back and analyse, we have a lot to fight for. After the sadness goes away we'll be stronger.
“We have to physically recover because it was very intense. This night will be hard on the mind but tomorrow is a new day to prepare and fight.”
Champions League qualification would 'limit the damage' - Guardiola
18:56 , Flo Clifford“Champions League is the most important thing, that would limit the damage,” Guardiola continues.
“This season has not been good. I want to say thank you to our fans, I know how difficult it is to come here with work tomorrow, the wickets and the travel. I can't thank them enough and hopefully they will join us and see us in the final.”
Lewis 'extraordinary' - Guardiola
18:46 , Flo CliffordSome reaction now.
"They pushed a little bit more in the second [half], we knew it,” Pep Guardiola tells BBC Sport. “We lost some balls - the fatigue was there. The experience we have fell down.
“The ball, the way it bounces, for both sides is difficult to control it. It cannot be quicker. We managed and I am really pleased to again be in the FA Cup final.”
Asked about Rico Lewis’ early goal, he says: “Rico moves in the pockets like very few players. He's an extraordinary player. He's so strong and so clever. We have to keep the ball because if you allow a lot of transitions it will be difficult.”
Liverpool win the Premier League
18:38 , Flo CliffordIn case you missed it, while Manchester City were booking their spot in one final and ensuring they still have silverware to this season, they were officially dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s Reds battered Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield to lift the title in style.
Liverpool vs Tottenham LIVE: Reaction as Reds secure 20th top-flight title
FA Cup finalists set
18:30 , Flo CliffordManchester City will meet Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on 17 May.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:26 , Flo CliffordThe City fans are in fine voice. Pep Guardiola’s men are into their third successive FA Cup final.
Gibbs-White looks absolutely gutted. Forest really improved through that second half, but just couldn’t get back into it.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:24 , Flo Clifford90+4 mins: Manchester City are into the semi-finals!
Still a shot at silverware for the soon-to-be-usurped Premier League champions.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:23 , Flo Clifford90+3 mins: Jota Silva thinks his header at the back post took a deflection. Elanga takes another corner, but it’s too deep and there’s no-one there to receive.
Hudson-Odoi recycles and Milenkovic knocks it forward, but Ortega collects and releases it for Doku, who sprints down the other end. He’s two on one with a couple of red shirts and Sosa goes into the book for bringing him down.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:22 , Flo Clifford90+2 mins: The City fans get the Poznan going. Liam Gallagher joins in.
Forest win a corner, Elanga to take.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:20 , Flo Clifford90 mins: Four minutes added on.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:19 , Flo Clifford89 mins: City give the ball away cheaply and Hudson-Odoi races away, but his pass is cut out. Gibbs-White gets in on the edge of the box and has a speculative punt/cross. Nothing comes of it.
Kovacic, who’s had a great game, comes off and gets a big hug from Guardiola. Nico Gonzalez comes on for the last few minutes.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:16 , Flo Clifford85 mins: Forest are creating chances but just can’t finish them. Awoniyi works his way down the left, lays it off for Elanga, charging into space down the centre, but his angle is off. It was offside anyway.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:13 , Flo Clifford82 mins: Not to be for Forest. They’ve got plenty of bodies in the box as Awoniyi hits the post and Gibbs-White struggles to get his head to the rebound, with Ortega leaping to save.
Drama down the other end as City counter, but Milenkovic chases down and Sels punts it clear.
Changes: Foden and Doku on for Marmoush and Savinho, Jota Silva and Sosa come on for Abbott, who has hurt himself, and Dominguez.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:08 , Flo Clifford78 mins: Marmoush makes a brilliant run, squaring to Savinho as the Brazilian runs into acres of space on the right of the boz, but City run out of room as Forest rush back to defend.
O’Reilly goes into the book for bringing down Elanga.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:04 , Flo Clifford74 mins: Kovacic plays a sublime pass into O’Reilly in the area. He cuts it back for Savinho but Sels scrambles to clear, and as it falls back to O’Reilly Abbott makes a crucial block. The resulting corner is dealt with.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:01 , Flo Clifford71 mins: Changes for both sides. Anderson and Wood come off for Sangare and Awoniyi. Grealish is replaced by Gundogan.
CLOSE! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
18:00 , Flo Clifford69 mins: How are Forest not back in this?! Gvardiol gives the ball away under pressure by Dominguez and with Ortega stranded off his line Gibbs-White jinks into space and shoots from a tight angle.
It looks destined for the back of the net, but it hits the post!
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
17:58 , Flo Clifford68 mins: Much more purpose from Forest now. Anderson squeezes in between a couple of defenders but his low strike drifts wide. Ortega wasn’t troubled there.
Nuno prepares to make changes.
HITS THE POST! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
17:56 , Flo Clifford65 mins: So, so close! Elanga makes an electric counter-attack, his pace beating City’s back line, and passes forward to Wood. It comes back to the Swede, who lays it off for Gibbs-White, who thumps it goalward on the half-volley - but it hits the bar! That would have made a stunning goal. So unlucky.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
17:54 , Flo Clifford64 mins: Gibbs-White wins the ball back and passes forward to Wood, but Ortega rushes off his line to clear.
Silva crosses in to the Forest box and Murillo deflects for another City corner. Forest will be wary after the last one.
This one is not so good, but Marmoush recycles. Grealish, on the edge of the box, combines nicely with the Egyptian but Marmoush’s attempt from the left is tipped over the crossbar by Sels.
Sels spills the ball as City come forward again, but it’s eventually dealt with.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
17:50 , Flo Clifford60 mins: Elanga shrugs off O’Reilly down the right, escaping a sliding challenge, and lays it off for Wood, but he can’t quite get there.
The birthday boy is looking Forest’s most likely scorer at the moment.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
17:48 , Flo Clifford59 mins: Milenkovic sends Grealish to ground and concedes a free-kick, in a central position but miles out from goal.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
17:45 , Flo Clifford56 mins: Grealish picks up a yellow for a high challenge on Gibbs-White, after Savinho drives into space and tees up Marmoush with a low cross. It bounces out towards the former Aston Villa man on the edge of the box, where he catches Gibbs-White.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
17:42 , Flo Clifford51 mins: City double their lead! Marmoush whips in a corner, Gvardiol is left totally unmarked in the centre and heads home!
A really simple goal, and very unfortunate for Forest.
City had an appeal for a penalty on Abbott just before, with the defender appearing to get a hand to Kovacic’s attempt, but nothing doing.
CHANCE! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:40 , Flo Clifford50 mins: How have City not scored?! Sels gets a strong hand to save from Nunes but punches the ball into the path of Kovacic - but the keeper, lying flat on his back, scrambles back into the goal to hook it clear. Absolutely amazing clearance.
CHANCE! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:37 , Flo Clifford47 mins: Elanga almost makes an impact immediately.
Forest win the ball and get it to Hudson-Odoi down the left channel, who lays it off for the Swede in the centre of the box - but Ortega, nearly in the splits, gets his boot to it and deflects it wide! Elanga puts his hands on his head.
A first attempt by Nottingham Forest in the entire match.
SECOND HALF: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:35 , Flo Clifford46 mins: Anthony Elanga celebrates his 23rd birthday by coming on at the restart, for Danilo.
We’re underway again!
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:34 , Flo CliffordAnthony Elanga is warming up and looks ready to come on. Forest certainly need to do something different.
Forest are already out on the pitch - if this is your first FA Cup semi-final in 30 years, you may as well make the most of every minute.
HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:25 , Flo CliffordAside from that moment of quality by Lewis in the first couple of minutes, this has been a bit of a borefest, really.
Forest have had a couple of decent spells, especially later in the half, but otherwise this has felt like a procession for City - even though they’re only 1-0 up.
Forest have had one touch in the opposition box to City’s 13 and no attempts on goal. Will they show some more attacking intent in the second half? One can only hope.
HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:19 , Flo Clifford45+1 mins: More noise from the crowd as Wood wins the ball! Toffolo makes a good run down the left channel, but City snuff it out, and that’s the end of the half.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:17 , Flo Clifford45 mins: Nunes objects to Forest winning a throw-in deep in their half.
One minute added on.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:16 , Flo Clifford44 mins: Bit more excitement now as Gibbs-White launches an attack, with Toffolo sprinting forward to try to keep it in at the corner flag. He only succeeds in thumping it into Gvardiol, who does well to keep it in play.
The inexperienced Abbott gives away a foul on Marmoush, 20 yards out on the far left of Forest’s goal.
Silva punts it in towards Gvardiol at the far post but Toffolo heads away.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:13 , Flo Clifford41 mins: There have been moments of drama in this game, but it’s feeling more like a City training session at the moment. Forest are lacking fight and enthusiasm.
The crowd’s a bit quiet too. It’s only 1-0, and there’s at least another 45 minutes to play, but you wouldn’t know it from the atmosphere.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:11 , Flo Clifford39 mins: City press again, with Savinho - a livewire so far today - attempting another shot. Dominguez throws himself at it to hook clear on the edge of the box. Murillo boots away another ball from countryman Savinho as City dominate proceedings once more.
CHANCE! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:08 , Flo Clifford35 mins: Better from Forest! Wood chests down the ball to Gibbs-White, who runs forward and lays it off for Hudson-Odoi on the right side of the box. He squares it to Wood but a firm challenge yards from goal puts a stop to that.
Offside anyway.
Gibbs-White collides with O’Reilly. A bit more spirit from the red shirts.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:05 , Flo Clifford32 mins: Forest look a bit more promising, but Gibbs-White’s attempt to set up Hudson-Odoi on the left wing comes to naught as the offside flag goes up.
A quieter spell now as City dominate the ball once again. Savinho feints and jinks into the box but Murillo is in the way, and tries to gee up the Forest fans as they win a goal kick.
CLOSE! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
17:00 , Flo Clifford28 mins: Nunes darts into space down the right but his cross is cleared by Abbott in the box.
But City break again, O’Reilly rolling off Danilo, and he takes a shot on the spin from 30 yards out. It rolls wide! What a goal that would have been.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:57 , Flo Clifford26 mins: Wood wins a foul off Dias for a Forest free-kick, deep in City’s half. Murillo takes. Milenkovic knocks it down across goal but the flag goes up.
Forest are getting a little bit more of a foothold in this game, with a sustained period in City’s half.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:55 , Flo Clifford23 mins: Forest make a rare counter as Wood wins the ball near the half-way line. It’s a bit messy and Gvardiol eventually manages to clear off Anderson; it looked like the Forest man was offside anyway.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:52 , Flo Clifford20 mins: Anderson tries to break for Forest but Kovacic, who is just bossing it in midfield, robs him. Bernardo Silva attempts to lay it off for Savinho in the box. Toffolo boots it away.
Corner to City, Abbott eventually clears, but Silva recycles it and Sels comes out to collect.
Has the importance of the occasion got to Forest? It certainly feels like it.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:49 , Flo Clifford17 mins: City have had 88 per cent of possession so far.
Marmoush skies an attempt over the bar, to jeers from the Forest fans behind the goal. Grealish was instrumental in setting that up, on his first start since 2 April.
Nunes breaks free on the right but is eventually chased down.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:46 , Flo Clifford14 mins: Marmoush sends in a free-kick on the right but can’t beat the first man. Poor.
It feels like City have got one or two extra men on the pitch at the moment. Any time Forest try to counter, there’s a blue shirt or three in the way to dispossess and press forward again.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:44 , Flo Clifford12 mins: Kovacic has been a handful so far and darts into the box again. City win a corner but Sels gets to the delivery.
Nunes gives the ball away cheaply and Forest try to counter, but they struggle to get out of their half and Kovacic robs Danilo at the half-way line to tee up another City move. Toffolo heads it away eventually.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:41 , Flo Clifford9 mins: This could be a long old afternoon for Nottingham Forest. Their fans were making all the noise before kick-off but have been thoroughly dampened now, and Nuno’s side have barely ventured out of their own half.
Bernardo Silva travels with the ball but Danilo hooks it clear on the edge of the six-yard box. VAR check it for handball by Danilo, but nothing doing.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:37 , Flo Clifford5 mins: Savinho is released down the right but Murillo gets there in time to clear.
All City at the moment.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
16:35 , Flo Clifford2 mins: The perfect start for Manchester City!
City work the ball forward, Forest look way too tentative, and Kovacic finds Lewis on the edge of the box. He takes a touch before firing a right-footed strike into the bottom left corner. Simple as.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Manchester City
16:34 , Flo Clifford2 mins: As you’d expect, City are having a lot of possession in these very early stages, with Grealish making his presence felt.
KICK-OFF: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City
16:32 , Flo CliffordAnd we’re underway!
Countdown is on
16:27 , Flo CliffordThe teams head down the tunnel... minutes to go at Wembley.
Team news
16:23 , Flo CliffordQuick reminder of the team news for this afternoon:
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Danilo, Toffolo, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
Substitutes: Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Moreno, Jota, Elanga, Sosa, Boly.
Manchester City XI: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Lewis, Kovacic, Bernardo, Savinho, Grealish, Marmoush
Substitutes: Ederson, Doku, Nico, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Reis, Akanji, Khusanov, Foden
FA Cup record
16:20 , Flo CliffordForest have won the FA Cup twice, but this is their first semi-final appearance for more than 30 years.
Their last major trophy came in the League Cup in 1990, some 34 years ago, with their last appearance in the FA Cup final the following year.
Manchester City on the other hand are in their seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final, having lifted the trophy three times in the last 15 years and seven times overall.
Head to head
16:10 , Flo CliffordThese two semi-finalists have one win apiece from their Premier League meetings this season.
Man City were 3-0 winners at home in December but Forest won 1-0 in last month’s reverse.
But City have lost four of their five FA Cup meetings with Nottingham Forest, their most recent encounter a 3-0 third-round loss in the 2008-09 campaign.
Who is Zach Abbott?
16:00 , Flo CliffordNuno Espirito Santo has made a bold move bringing 18-year-old Zach Abbott into the starting line-up, with the teenager making just his third senior appearance - and first since August.
He comes into a depleted defence with Ola Aina injured and both Ryan Yates and Nico Williams suspended.
Abbott has only played one game this season, a League Cup defeat to Newcastle in August.
What an occasion for the young lad, in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Routes to the semi-final
15:50 , Flo CliffordManchester City were 2-1 winners over Bournemouth in the quarter-finals, having previously beat Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle - who memorably knocked Liverpool out of the cup - 3-1.
They started their campaign with an 8-0 battering of Salford City but had an uphill battle from there, coming back from 1-0 down in each of their next three matches. In the fourth round they were given a scare by Leyton Orient, ultimately winning 2-1.
Routes to the semi-final
15:45 , Flo CliffordForest have had to dig deep to reach the semi-finals, making history as the first team to win three penalty shootouts in the same campaign in the competition.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side won 4-3 on penalties away at Brighton in the quarter-finals of the competition, having previously overcome Ipswich Town (5-4 on penalties), Exeter City (4-2 on penalties), and Luton Town (2-0) in the earlier rounds.
Team news - Manchester City
15:41 , Flo CliffordPep Guardiola has made three changes to the City side that ran out 2-1 winners over Aston Villa in the Premier League this week.
Jack Grealish, Rico Lewis and Savinho all come into the starting line-up, with Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and James McAtee dropping out, the latter missing the squad altogether through suspension.
Team news - Nottingham Forest
15:38 , Flo CliffordNuno Espirito Santo has made two changes after their top-flight win over Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, with 18-year-old Zach Abbott and Callum Hudson-Odoi both starting, Abbott making his full Forest debut.
Anthony Elanga is benched, while Neco Williams is suspended after a booking against Brighton in the quarter-final.
Team news - Manchester City
15:32 , Flo CliffordManchester City XI: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Lewis, Kovacic, Bernardo, Savinho, Grealish, Marmoush
Substitutes: Ederson, Doku, Nico, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Reis, Akanji, Khusanov, Foden
Team news - Nottingham Forest
15:31 , Flo CliffordNottingham Forest XI: Sels, Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Danilo, Toffolo, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
Substitutes: Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Moreno, Jota, Elanga, Sosa, Boly.
Team news incoming
15:15 , Flo CliffordWe’re expected team news to drop in the next few minutes...
Last time out
15:10 , Flo CliffordMeanwhile in Manchester, Matheus Nunes was the unlikely hero as he broke the deadlock against Aston Villa, firing in a stoppage-time winner to seal a 2-1 victory.
How Man City’s unlikely hero reshaped the Champions League race
Last time out
15:00 , Flo CliffordQuick reminder of the last outing for each of today’s semi-finalists: Nottingham Forest held on to beat Tottenham in the top flight last weekend, with Chris Wood ending a seven-game goal drought and Elliott Anderson also on the scoresheet as they won 2-1, with a late Richarlison header not enough to get Spurs back into the game.
Nottingham Forest soar back into third with win at wasteful Tottenham
Why every neutral should be backing Nottingham Forest at Wembley
14:50 , Flo CliffordTurning away from City, here’s Jonathan Margolis on why all neutrals should be rooting for Forest this afternoon:
Why every neutral should be backing Nottingham Forest at Wembley
How the FA Cup semi-finals display the new dynamics of the Premier League’s disruptor clubs
14:40 , Flo CliffordChief Football Writer Miguel Delaney took an in-depth look at the “political intrigue” behind this year’s FA Cup campaign.
Two of the four semi-finalists - Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa - so-called “disruptor clubs”, throwing their weight behind Manchester City in Premier League meetings and making themselves heard in matters of PSR.
Read more here:
FA Cup semi-finals display the new dynamics of the Premier League’s disruptors
Ilkay Gundogan’s Wembley return is reminder of how dominant Man City were – and can be again
14:30 , Flo CliffordFor almost half a century, Jackie Milburn held the record. Then with a thunderbolt from a Blue, Roberto Di Matteo took it. Louis Saha went still faster, scoring the earliest goal in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Until, on his last outing at England’s national stadium, Ilkay Gundogan let fly. His afternoon ended with him lifting the FA Cup, one of three trophies in his last three games as captain. It began with a goal in 13 seconds in the 2023 final. Now he is off to Wembley again.
“I personally enjoyed it very much when I was last there, yes,” said Gundogan. “It was a great day. Not just Wembley and the FA Cup, also a derby against [Manchester] United and being able to contribute with scoring two goals to get that title felt amazing.”
His perfect goodbye in 2023 meant he missed the rematch of a Manchester derby, United’s victory in the FA Cup last summer. That, in turn, means City return to London as serial semi-finalists, in the last four for a seventh consecutive season, rather than as holders when they face Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Read more from Richard Jolly:
Gundogan’s Wembley return is reminder of how dominant Man City were
Triumph in FA Cup will not undo damage to Man City’s winning reputation, says Pep Guardiola
14:20 , Flo CliffordBut while any trophy is better than none, Pep Guardiola has made it clear that winning the FA Cup wouldn’t be enough, in his mind, to erase the memory of what has been a pretty bad season by City’s own high standards.
City fell behind title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal earlier this season having suffered nine defeats - more losses than in their previous two campaigns combined - while they were knocked out of the Champions League in the knockout phase playoffs.
A six-times league winner as City boss, Guardiola has not had a trophyless campaign since his first year at the club and he expects the team will get back to their best next season.
FA Cup win will not undo damage to Man City’s aura, says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola knows Nottingham Forest provide stern test for Manchester City
14:00 , Flo CliffordPep Guardiola acknowledges Manchester City need to overcome a formidable defensive unit in Nottingham Forest to reach a third successive FA Cup final.
City, winners in 2023 and runners-up last season, are potentially just 90 minutes away from another shot at the trophy as they prepare to face Forest in Sunday’s second semi-final at Wembley.
Yet Forest, after two years of relegation battles, have been one of the Premier League’s success stories this term and are likely to provide a stern test.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, who are also challenging City for a Champions League spot, boast the third meanest defence in the top flight and goalkeeper Matz Sels is leading the race for the Golden Glove.
Pep Guardiola knows Nottingham Forest provide stern test for Manchester City
Game of contrasting importance
13:50 , Flo CliffordThis cup campaign takes on contrasting importance for each side, with Forest hoping to end a long wait for a major trophy after a resurgent season and Pep Guardiola’s side seeking to salvage a trophy with Premier League and European hopes long gone.
The seven-time winners were beaten by rivals Manchester United in last year’s final, while it 34 years since their opponents last contested the competition decider.
Having tasted success against Manchester CIty in the league last month, Nottingham Forest will hope for a repeat result to book another trip to the home of English football.
Predicted line-ups
13:40 , Flo CliffordNottingham Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Toffolo; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
Manchester City XI: Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Silva, Kovacic, Gundogan; Foden, De Bruyne, Marmoush.
Early team news - Manchester City
13:30 , Flo CliffordManchester City remain without Erling Haaland, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Rodri, while Ederson is a doubt after missing the side’s last two outings with a groin issue.
Stefan Ortega may well deputise in goal. James McAtee is suspended.
Early team news - Nottingham Forest
13:25 , Flo CliffordRyan Yates and Neco Williams will miss out for Nottingham Forest after being banned for their own accumulation of bookings during the course of the tournament. Ola Aina is also battling a calf problem.
Who will join Crystal Palace at Wembley?
13:20 , Flo CliffordWhoever wins today’s clash will set up a meeting with Crystal Palace at Wembley in next month’s final, after Oliver Glasner’s side swept past Aston Villa 3-0.
Goals from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr secured just a third major final in Crystal Palace’s history, with the Eagles running rampant against Unai Emery’s Villa.
Sublime Crystal Palace set up shot at FA Cup history and show others the way
How to watch
13:15 , Flo CliffordThe FA Cup semi-final is due to kick off at 4.30pm BST on Sunday 27 April at Wembley Stadium.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the action live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 3.30pm BST. A live stream will be available via ITVX.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE
13:10 , Flo CliffordFor Manchester City, the FA Cup remains their only chance of silverware and would go a fraction of the way to salvaging what has been an unexpectedly torrid season for Pep Guardiola’s serial winners.
But they look to have peaked at the right time, with an uptick in form taking them to fourth in the league, and they look a fairly solid bet for Champions League qualification.
And the FA Cup is one of many trophies they’ve become accustomed to winning, having won seven editions, most recently in 2023-24, so they’ve certainly got the form.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE
13:05 , Flo CliffordNottingham Forest have the chance to disrupt ‘Big Six’ hegemony in the FA Cup. Since Portsmouth v Cardiff in the 2008 final, there’s always been a ‘Big Six’ club in the final, with both finalists often coming from the traditional behemoths of the Premier League.
Forest are having a dream season, with Champions League qualification remaining a distinct possibility.
They could finish this season lifting their first silverware since the League Cup in 1990, and with a European place to boot - a far cry from the squad that was staving off relegation not long ago.
Good afternoon
13:00 , Flo CliffordHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the second FA Cup semi-final, between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.
Last night’s affair between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa was a cracker; expect more of the same today.
We’ll have all of the build-up and action here, so don’t go anywhere...
