In a hard-fought but unspectacular game, Nottingham Forest beat ManCity 1-0 through a late goal from Hudson-Odoi to initially secure 3rd place.
Compared to Monday’s 5-4 win on penalties in the FA Cup last-16 first leg against Ipswich Town, Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo made five changes to the starting lineup: Milenkovic, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White and goalscorer Wood started instead of Morato, Yates, Sangaré and Danilo.
Pep Guardiola’s ManCity team rotated even more than usual compared to their 3-1 win in the FA Cup round of 16 against second-division side Plymouth Argoyle. Only Bernardo Silva and Foden were in the starting lineup again. Gündogan, among others, therefore initially took a seat on the bench again.
Haaland and Nico miss the target
In the first half hour of the game, the Skyblues had a clear advantage in terms of play. Haaland, who shot just wide despite being under pressure (8th), and Nico, with a powerful long-range shot that went very close (13th), had the only good scoring chances in the first half.
It was only in the closing stages of a thoroughly intense but mostly fair first half that Nottingham also appeared a few times in and around City’s penalty area. However, Dominguez did not have a real chance until the second half (47th minute), when he had a volley taken away from him.
Hudson Odoi scores, Ederson does not look good
The game remained competitive as it progressed, but was now evenly poised, with clear chances remaining rare. It was not until the 67th minute that Hudson-Odoi failed to beat Ederson decisively at the right post with a shot on the turn. On the opposite side, De Bruyne tested Sels with a free-kick (77′).
But the decision was made in favor of Nottingham: Hudson-Odoi, who was sent on a steep path, overcame Ederson in the 83rd minute with a shot from the right corner that Ederson had to let pass at the right post. It was the deciding moment in the game. For Forest’s coach, it was already the fourth Premier League victory against Guardiola’s team. Only Jürgen Klopp has scored more against the Catalan side, five.
ManCity now face Brighton & Hove Albion at home next Saturday (3pm). An hour later, Nottingham face Ipswich again, but this time away.
