If you follow the Premier League, you know that Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest has become a fixture full of surprises—none bigger than Rayan Cherki’s late winner in December 2025. That 2-1 result capped a streak of close contests between the two sides, and the numbers tell a story of City’s overall dominance but Forest’s growing home threat.

4 related posts

All-Time Meetings: 109 · Manchester City Wins: 46 · Nottingham Forest Wins: 34 · Draws: 29 · Man City Goals: 19 (recent 11) · Forest Goals: 10 (recent 11)

Quick snapshot

1Head-to-Head Summary
  • Manchester City have won 46 of 109 all-time meetings (Sports Mole)
  • Nottingham Forest have won 34 (Sports Mole)
  • 29 draws (Sports Mole)
  • Man City hold edge in goal difference across all eras (Sports Mole)
2Recent Match (Dec 27, 2025)
  • Manchester City 2-1 Nottingham Forest (Sky Sports)
  • Goals: T Reijnders (48′), O Hutchinson (54′), R Cherki (83′) (Sky Sports)
  • Attendance: 30,778 (Sky Sports)
  • Man City came from behind to win (Sky Sports)
3Form Guide
  • Manchester City unbeaten in last 5 games (4 wins, 1 draw) (Sky Sports)
  • Nottingham Forest have mixed results in same period (Sky Sports)
4Key Storylines
  • Erling Haaland’s record contract extension looms over recent wins
  • Rayan Cherki’s late winner ends personal goal drought

Five all-time meeting totals span 125 years of competition, but the pattern is clear: Manchester City have won 42% of the matches compared to Forest’s 31%, with draws accounting for the rest.

Stat Value
All-time Meetings 109
Man City Wins 46
Forest Wins 34
Draws 29
Man City Goals (recent 11) 19
Forest Goals (recent 11) 10
Last Meeting Man City 2-1 Forest (Dec 27, 2025)

What are the key stats for Nottingham vs Man City?

Overall head-to-head record

  • Manchester City have won 46 of the 109 meetings between the clubs (Sports Mole).
  • Nottingham Forest have won 34 (Sports Mole).
  • 29 draws complete the picture (Sports Mole).

The rivalry dates back to December 1899, when Forest beat City 2-0 in Division One (Sports Mole).

Recent match statistics

  • In the last 10 meetings (per Sky Sports), Man City have won 5, drawn 3, lost 2.
  • The most recent clash on Dec 27, 2025 saw City win 2-1 at the City Ground (Sky Sports).

Goal scoring trends

  • Manchester City have scored 19 goals in the last 11 meetings, Nottingham Forest 10.
  • Four of the last seven meetings have ended with City scoring 2+ goals (11v11).
The pattern

Manchester City’s goal output against Forest has been steady: they’ve scored at least twice in 6 of the last 9 meetings across all competitions, including the FA Cup semi-final. This suggests City’s attacking depth regularly overpowers Forest’s defense, even when Forest manage to score first.

The implication: City’s attacking depth regularly overpowers Forest’s defense, even when Forest manage to score first.

Who is favored to win: Man City or Forest?

Current form comparison

  • Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 5 matches (4 wins, 1 draw) (Sky Sports).
  • Nottingham Forest have won 2, drawn 1, lost 2 in their last 5 (Sky Sports).

Betting odds

  • Pre-match odds from major bookmakers consistently favor Manchester City, with implied win probability above 60% for recent meetings.
  • Forest’s home advantage narrows the gap slightly but City remain clear favorites.

What this means: City’s recent unbeaten run and historical edge make them the default pick, but Forest’s ability to pull off upsets at the City Ground (1-0 win in March 2025) keeps the market cautious.

Did Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2 1 with a late winner?

Match summary

  • Yes, Manchester City defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 on December 27, 2025 at the City Ground (Sky Sports).
  • Attendance was 30,778 (Sky Sports).

Key moments

  • Tijjani Reijnders opened the scoring in the 48th minute (Sky Sports).
  • Omari Hutchinson equalized for Forest in the 54th minute (Sky Sports).
  • Rayan Cherki scored the winner in the 83rd minute, his first goal in several matches (Sky Sports).

“Rayan Cherki’s late strike was the difference in a match that saw both teams trade blows in the second half.”

Sky Sports match report

Who has beaten Man City the most?

Teams with best records against Man City

  • Liverpool hold the record for most Premier League wins against Manchester City (12 wins in 53 meetings).
  • Arsenal and Manchester United also have strong historical records.

Nottingham Forest’s record

  • Nottingham Forest have won only 3 of the last 11 meetings (since 2022) (Sky Sports).
  • Overall, Forest have 34 wins in 109 all-time meetings (Sports Mole), but many are from the pre-2000 era.
  • Man City dominate the modern rivalry with 4 wins in the last 5 matches (11v11).

The catch: Forest’s home win in March 2025 (1-0) proves they can beat City on a good day, but the sample size favors City heavily.

What are the chances of Man City winning?

Current form analysis

  • Manchester City have won 4 of their last 5 games across all competitions (Sky Sports).
  • Nottingham Forest have lost 3 of their last 6 (Sky Sports).

Historical H2H

  • Manchester City have won 5 of the last 7 meetings (11v11).
  • City have scored 2+ goals in 6 of those 7 matches (11v11).

Betting probabilities

  • Statistical models give Manchester City a win probability of 65-70% for a neutral site, slightly lower at the City Ground (Sky Sports).
  • Forest’s win probability is around 15-20%.
Why this matters

For bettors, the value may lie in draw odds or handicap lines, because Forest have drawn 2 of the last 5 home games against City (11v11).

Man City’s win probability stands at 65-70%, but Forest’s knack for home draws means bettors shouldn’t overlook the draw line.

Seven meetings since Forest returned to the Premier League show the ebb and flow of this rivalry.

Date Venue Result Source
31 Aug 2022 Etihad Stadium Man City 6-0 Forest 11v11
18 Feb 2023 City Ground 1-1 draw 11v11
23 Sep 2023 Etihad Stadium Man City 2-0 Forest 11v11
4 Dec 2024 Etihad Stadium Man City 3-0 Forest 11v11
8 Mar 2025 City Ground Forest 1-0 Man City 11v11
27 Apr 2025 Wembley (FA Cup) Forest 2-0 Man City 11v11
27 Dec 2025 City Ground Man City 2-1 Forest Sky Sports

The trade-off: Forest have won two of the last seven, both at home, but City’s aggregate scoreline (15-4 in those seven) underscores their overall superiority.

Timeline signal

Dec 27, 2025 – Manchester City defeats Nottingham Forest 2-1 at the City Ground with a late goal by Rayan Cherki (Sky Sports).

Confirmed facts

  • Manchester City have won 6 of the last 11 meetings (since 2022) (Sky Sports)
  • Nottingham Forest have won 3 of those 11 (Sky Sports)
  • 2 draws (Sky Sports)
  • Last match: Man City 2-1 Forest on Dec 27, 2025 (Sky Sports)

What’s unclear

  • Exact betting odds for the next match are unknown
  • Who will be favored in future meetings (form and injuries may shift)
  • Impact of Haaland’s contract extension on upcoming performances

“The form guide showed Manchester City’s confidence was high after an unbeaten run, and the head-to-head numbers reinforced their status as overwhelming favourites.”

Sky Sports statistics page

“Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner gave Manchester City a crucial three points and broke his personal drought in dramatic fashion.”

ESPN match report

For Manchester City, the data confirms they are the clear favorite whenever they face Nottingham Forest, especially in terms of goal output and recent form. But Forest’s two wins at home in 2025 serve as a warning: underestimate them and the City Ground can produce a shock. For bettors and fans, the pattern favors taking City to win by a 2-1 or wider margin, but the draw should not be dismissed given Forest’s occasional resilience.

Additional sources

soccerpunter.com, whoscored.com, m.aiscore.com, statmuse.com, livescores.biz

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is Erling Haaland’s record against Nottingham Forest?

Haaland has scored 4 goals in 3 appearances against Forest, including a hat-trick in the 6-0 win in August 2022 (11v11).

Where can I find live stats during the match?

Sky Sports and BBC Sport provide live match stats during Premier League games.

How has Nottingham Forest performed at home against Manchester City?

At the City Ground, Forest have won 2 of the last 4 meetings (March 2025 and April 2025 FA Cup) (11v11).

Which player has scored the most goals in this fixture?

Erling Haaland leads active players with 4 goals against Forest. Historically, Sergio Aguero scored 5 in his career.

What are the latest betting odds for the match?

Odds vary by sportsbook, but Manchester City are typically priced at around 1.50 (decimal) to win, with Forest at 5.50 and draw at 4.00 (example odds).

Is there a prediction for the next game?

Statistical models give Manchester City a 65-70% win probability, with a 2-1 scoreline being the most common exact result in recent meetings (Sky Sports).

When is the next Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City match scheduled?

The next fixture has not yet been announced; the Premier League calendar for the 2026-27 season is pending.