In what was probably a season-defining showdown from the Metropolis Floor on Saturday lunchtime, Nottingham Forest claimed a dramatic late 1-0 victory in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
With neither goalkeeper pressured right into a save in the course of the first-half, probabilities got here at an actual premium as neutrals have been handled to a nervy affair from the 2 Champions League contenders.
Whereas Brazilian shot-stopper Ederson might need produced a sensational cease to disclaim Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest didn’t have to attend for much longer to seize a well-known winner on house soil.
Sending the Metropolis Floor into overdrive, it was former Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi who proved to be Forest’s hero because the England worldwide powered house from a good angle within the ultimate couple of minutes.
Watching their respective top-four desires taken an actual blow away from the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s males can have few complaints following what was one other toothless home show.
On a day when Nottingham Forest shored up their spot within the top-four chase, we have now taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors from the Metropolis Floor.
Forest take a large leap in direction of a well-known Champions League ticket
Whereas Nottingham Forest might need spent nearly all of final season trying over their shoulder at one other looming relegation scrap, Saturday’s hosts have firmly cemented their spot as considered one of Europe’s final shock packages this time round.
Embarking on what has been an actual fairytale this 12 months and rightfully receiving a string of plaudits from throughout Europe’s elite, Nuno Espitito Santo finds his squad sat firmly within the driving seat to punch an iconic Champions League ticket in 2025.
Breaking a bunch of long-standing information this season and nonetheless positioned in bronze medal place, the previous Tottenham boss noticed his high-flying squad make one other heavyweight assertion right here.
Overcoming the defending champions and taking one other big leap in direction of a top-four end come Could, Nottingham Forest have additionally gained a fearsome status for his or her continued success on the Metropolis Floor.
Ending Saturday’s showdown holding a five-point buffer from slipping out of the Champions League spots, Santo’s record-breaking squad can be subsequent seen once they journey to relegation scrappers Ipswich.
Metropolis endure one other home blow
Watching their Champions League journey come to a thumping finish final month as they fell to a 6-3 combination defeat by the hands of Spanish giants Actual Madrid, Manchester Metropolis are dealing with the true prospect of ending the season with out a single piece of silverware to indicate for his or her troubles.
Travelling to the Metropolis Floor on Saturday lunchtime solely simply clinging to their spot within the top-four, Guardiola’s males have been greater than conscious that they confronted a probably season-defining battle in Nottingham.
Nonetheless, whereas the defending champions might need signed off February with a nervy 1-0 victory away at Tottenham, Man Metropolis got here crashing again right down to fireplace right here.
Drastically failing to seek out any type of stability and now dropping three of their earlier 5 Premier League appearances, Saturday’s friends know that they may end this weekend’s fixtures sat exterior the top-four.
With Metropolis’s celebrity squad as soon as once more slicing one other disgruntled determine on the full-time whistle, time is beginning to tick away for Guardiola’s camp.
Attacking points hang-out Guardiola
With Guardiola stating after Saturday’s 1-0 loss in Nottingham that his squad has 10 cup finals developing within the race to ebook a necessary Champions League ticket, the previous Barcelona boss could have an actual headache over his facet’s struggles within the ultimate third.
Whereas Norwegian celebrity Erling Haaland might need continued to shine this season after notching 20 targets in his 27 Premier League appearances to this point this season, Metropolis have drastically failed to seek out any type of fluidity in assault.
Placing in one other toothless home show right here and failing to create any type of sustained strain, the Sky Blues have now notched only a single aim from their final three Premier League appearances.
Slumping to a routine 2-0 defeat at house in opposition to bitter rivals Liverpool on February twenty third, Guardiola’s camp have additionally didn’t notch greater than a single strike in 4 of their earlier 5 Premier League outings.
Match Report
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wooden
Subs: Yates, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi
Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Gonzalez, Savinho, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Lewis, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Marmoush
Targets: Hudson-Odoi (83’)
Yellow Playing cards: Nottingham Forest: Yates, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White – Manchester Metropolis: Gonzalez, Nunes
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Chris Kavanagh