Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City Player Ratings: Pep Guardiola’s Side Storm Into FA Cup Final With Decisive Win

Manchester City picked up a compelling 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 27 April 2025. Rico Lewis’ early goal and a header from Josko Gvardiol helped the Cityzens move into the FA Cup final, with Nottingham Forest’s inexperience holding them back.

Manchester City started dominating possession from the get-go and decided to pile their bodies forward to put Nottingham Forest under pressure in the early minutes. That paid off as some clever work from Mateo Kovacic helped Rico Lewis find space to rifle a shot into the back of the net from just outside the box to make it 1-0. The Cityzens refused to give up their control over the game, moving the ball around and dictating the tempo as they liked.

Omar Marmoush was able to combine well with Jack Grealish in the 16th minute to find himself a shooting position, but smashed an effort over the bar. Chris Wood was almost played in the box in the 21st minute, but admirable defensive work from Ruben Dias stopped him in his tracks. Six minutes later, Nico O’Reilly regained possession inside the Nottingham Forest box and took his chance from a long range, only for his shot to go wide.

Pep Guardiola’s side were more than happy to play at their pace and control possession, not allowing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to hit them on counter-attacks or set-pieces in the first half. Nottingham Forest began the second half with high energy levels and almost grabbed an equalizer in the 46th minute, as substitute Anthony Elanga scuffed a big chance from close range.

Matz Sels made two huge saves to deny a second Manchester City goal in the 50th minute. But that didn’t matter, as Josko Gvardiol scored the second goal with a thumping header in the 51st minute. Omar Marmoush had a few efforts denied in the 55th and 63rd minute marks, before Nottingham Forest took control.

Morgan Gibbs-White struck the post twice in the 66th and 70th minutes. Taiwo Awoniyi also had a shot hit the post in the 80th minute, as luck would not favor Santo’s side at all. Manchester City went on to get the job done to move on to the FA Cup final, where they’ll face Crystal Palace. Here are the Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Player Ratings.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings

GK – Matz Sels – 6.5/10

Sels played an important role in ensuring things didn’t become embarrassing for his side. He produced a few excellent saves in the second half, especially a sharp double save around the hour mark. Undone by two super strikes.

RB – Zach Abbott – 5/10

The teenager had a humbling lesson in the FA Cup semifinal. He couldn’t do much to neutralise the Cityzens’ threat on the right. Despite making some nice clearances, he couldn’t do much to impact the game.

CB – Nikola Milenkovic – 6/10

The 27-year-old was pretty sharp and proactive at the back, making some key possession recoveries. Stopped Man City from creating quite a few open play chances but couldn’t do much for the goals.

CB – Murillo – 4.5/10

Murillo had a tough outing, failing to block Lewis’ shot for his goal or mark Gvardiol properly for his goal. He made 10 clearances, but failed to come up clutch in key moments.

LB – Harry Toffolo – 5/10

Toffollo was proactive enough to make some nice clearances, but couldn’t really keep a lid on Savinho’s threat. He was unable to provide any attacking threat either.

CM – Danilo – 4/10

The Brazilian had a nightmare against the Manchester City midfielders, getting outwitted by Kovacic & co. Couldn’t do anything to stop their flow in midfield and was taken off at half-time after a very inefficient display.

CM – Elliott Anderson – 6/10

The 22-year-old was quite energetic in the midfield, working hard to win quite a few key duels and regaining possession on some prominent occasions. However, he failed to create much or test the goalkeeper properly.

CM – Nicolas Dominguez – 7/10

The Argentine midfielder was a livewire, who at least tried his best to stop Manchester City’s flow through the midfield. He won six duels and made a few important possession recoveries, as well as moving the ball nicely.

RW – Morgan Gibbs-White – 6/10

Gibbs-White did not have Lady Luck on his side on the day. He had a quiet first half, but struck the post twice in the second half as well as having close range effort denied.

LW – Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6.5/10

Hudson-Odoi was quite a threat on the counter-attack, using his pace and movement to trouble the Cityzens. He created a big chance for Elanga early in the second half and was unlucky not to get anything.

CF – Chris Wood – 4/10

Wood was able to win a few nice duels for his side, but posed little threat inside the Manchester City box. He couldn’t get a single shot in or create anything for his side.

SUB – Anthony Elanga – 5/10

Missed a huge chance from close range, seconds after coming on. Couldn’t really do much after that.

SUB – Taiwo Awoniyi – 6/10

Had a shot hit the bar after coming on, being unlucky to see that effort denied. Couldn’t do much apart from that.

SUB – Ibrahim Sangare – 6/10

Sangare helped add a bit more steel to the midfield, winning some nice duels and denying City any more goals.

SUB – Jota Silva – 5/10

Could not provide any major goal threat for his side.

SUB – Ramon Sosa – N/R

Had a quiet late cameo.

Manager – Nuno Espirito Santo – 5/10

Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision to play on the back foot came back to haunt him. He allowed Man City to take full control of the game and dominate things, which allowed the Cityzens to play to their strengths. His side weren’t efficient enough in the counter-attacks and were also unlucky in seeing some efforts hit the post.

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Manchester City Player Ratings

GK – Stefan Ortega – 6.5/10

Ortega was untested in the first half but sprang to action went he pressure increased. He made a super save to deny Gibbs-White in the second-half to preserve his clean sheet.

RB – Matheus Nunes – 5.5/10

The Portuguese defender worked hard on the right, but was the target point for the opponents. A lot of the attacks were created through his side, and despite winning some nice duels, he also opened up space on that side.

CB – Ruben Dias – 7.5/10

Dias held together a strong defensive line for his side. He made seven clearances and as many possession recoveries, springing into the key areas to fend away danger and frustrate the opponents.

CB – Josko Gvardiol – 8/10

Gvardiol was sturdy at the back, making some impressive clearances and moving the ball forward nicely. He also popped up in the right place to score a thunderous header to seal the win for his side.

LB – Nico O’Reilly – 7.5/10

The youngster proved his quality with a solid display at Wembley. He was proactive and energetic, winning eight duels and also making a few key clearances.

CM – Mateo Kovacic – 9/10

Kovacic was the orchestrator for Manchester City’s dominant performance. He started the game energetically to win back the ball and assist Lewis’s goal. Helped control things with his clever passing and also won seven duels.

CM – Rico Lewis – 8/10

Lewis justified his coach’s decision to start him over Kevin de Bruyne. He produced a smashing finish to help his side take an early lead and was a livewire in the midfield, driving his side forward and passing the ball around nicely.

CM – Bernardo Silva – 6/10

The Portuguese midfielder was a reliable figure in the midfield. He kept moving the ball forward nicely and also won some nice duels, ensuring that his side did not give up control of the game.

RW – Savinho – 6/10

The tricky winger helped create some nice chances with his exciting forward runs. He completed some nice dribbles to set up chances, but was unable to really test the goalkeeper.

LW – Jack Grealish – 6.5/10

Grealish produced a mature performance to help his side stay on top of the Nottingham Forest players. He moved the ball along nicely and linked up really well with Marmoush, helping move his forward efficiently.

CF – Omar Marmoush – 7/10

Marmoush was a menace to the Nottingham Forest defenders with his movement and shooting threat. Had some nice shots on goal, but saw his efforts thwarted. Assisted Gvardiol’s goal with a great cross.

SUB – Ilkay Gundogan – 6/10

The experienced midfielder helped his side control the late stages of the game with his reliable passing.

SUB – Jeremy Doku – 5.5/10

The Belgian winger was able to move the ball forward nicely, but couldn’t create much.

SUB – Phil Foden – 6/10

Had a quiet little cameo towards the end.

SUB – Nico Gonzalez – N/R

Came on for the final bits of the game.

Manager – Pep Guardiola – 7.5/10

Guardiola took a few gambles in starting Rico Lewis over Kevin de Bruyne or benching Phil Foden. However, his decisions worked out perfectly as Lewis scored and Grealish produced a nice performance too. He ensured his side never lost control of the game. Lady luck was on his side as well, with the visitors striking the post so many times.

Mateo Kovacic is Sportsdunia’s Man of the Match for this game.

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