Nottingham Forest’s remarkable push for a Champions League spot gained momentum with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over struggling Manchester City on Saturday.
Callum Hudson-Odoi delivered the decisive moment in the 83rd minute, finding the net with a shot that slipped past City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes at his near post.
The match at the City Ground produced few clear opportunities, but Forest made theirs count, securing a crucial three points.
The result extends their lead over fourth-place Manchester City to four points, a stunning turnaround for a team that was battling relegation just last season.
For City, their hopes of a fifth consecutive Premier League title have faded, and now they face an uphill battle to finish in the top five, a position likely to secure Champions League qualification.
Despite recovering somewhat from a dismal end to 2024, Pep Guardiola’s men have now suffered three defeats in their last five league outings, all against the current top three: Liverpool, Arsenal, and now Forest.
With 10 matches left, Nottingham Forest is eyeing a return to Europe’s premier competition, a stage they famously conquered in back-to-back triumphs under Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980.
Meanwhile, later on Saturday, Liverpool has the opportunity to extend its lead at the top of the table to 16 points when it hosts bottom-placed Southampton.
