Both teams had the obligation to win, City to maintain the straight set of winnings, and Nottingham Forest to keep fighting for a place in Europe.
Though it is only the beginning, and the Premier League is long, those matches can decide more for the next phases and what is ahead.
Jack Grealish is back from the injury and he is on the bench, with Doku as a starter. Halaand was in the attack supported by Julian Alvarez. On the other side, Awoniyi was leading the attack together with Dominguez and Gibbs-White.
The game started with City in the attack and with Gvardiol and Akanji in the attack. They had a free kick in a very dangerous position in the 3rd minute with Julian Alvarez. He shot and Turner saved in the left side.
Nottingham Forest were two lines behind the ball and did not want to concede earlier in the game. To keep the rhythm and also to be in the game, attackers should have created more.
Goals were coming…
But City managed to score in the early in the game after a quick combination of Foden-Walker.
Phil Foden scored with a strong shot in the zone defeating Turner in his left wing. City had an early advantage.
7' @PhilFoden
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 23, 2023
14' @ErlingHaaland@ManCity are enjoying themselves 🔥#MCINFO pic.twitter.com/itove5ys4x
The team of Pep Guardiola had the goal they wanted in Etihad. Nottingham was in real difficulties.
Halaand had the second opportunity with a header and he punished with a header. Nottingham were two goals behind in 14 minutes.
Yesssss! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 23, 2023
🔵 2-0 🌳 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/1gVM2cvVmN
Awoniyi had a chance 1v1 against Akanji and he won a foul at the entrance of the box. Akanji got booked by Anthony Tailor.
Gibbs-White had the chance with the free kick, but his ball was deflected in a corner kick in the 19th minute. Matheus Nunez blocked the shot with City, which was cautious in these moments.
Nunez Tavarez got a yellow card in the 21st, after fouling Jeremy Doku. This City had quality and was resilient to solve difficult situations. At the same time, they created more with Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez in the 26th. Alvarez’s shot was saved by Turner.
Nottingham started to react
Nottingham was finally in the City’s end with Tavarez and Gibbs-White but could not do much to score.
Julian Alvarez has another goalie chance in the 30th minute, but Willy Boly blocks the shot.
Steve Cooper’s moment to interfere with subs before halftime with Tavarez’s injury in the 34th.
The halftime was there with City having a comfortable win with the goals of Halaand and Foden.
HALF-TIME | Two superb goals give us a lead at the interval! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 23, 2023
🔵 2-0 🌳 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/LRzGlcmyiI
The second half started with a red card for Manchester City and Rodri had to go after pushing Gibbs-White.
The manager of City decided to replace Jeremy Doku with Kalvin Philips in order to balance things in the center of the midfield in the 51st.
Manchester City had to change the style of attacking and the style of play in what could be turned into an embarrassing situation for them if they conceded just one goal.
Steve Cooper substituted Sangare with Anthony Elanga and Serge Aurier with Callum Hudson Odoi in the 56th.
City decided to change Julian Alvarez with Nathan Ake in the 57th and this sub had the effect. Awoniyi was in the zone and shot wide after 58 minutes had passed. He and Ederson get a yellow afterward for fighting and debating over the case.
Their new signing Nicolas Dominguez would have a great chance in the 63rd but his shot ends wide.
Nottingham had some really good moments but they couldn’t make more to score in any of them. They needed more luck and an extra pass to find at least one goal.
Morgan Gibbs White shot in the 75th, but his shot was blocked by Manuel Akanji. Steve Cooper needs to make effective changes to be back in the game and seek the equalizer.
The game after the subs
Nathan Ake crosses in the 78th with Erling Halaand, who tries with a half-volley but can’t find the target. City had the right response at the right time and was on the way to secure the game.
The Citizens were a strong bone in this game and they could not let the victory escape even with ten players.
Divock Origi commits a terrible foul on Josko Gvardiol in the 81st and receives a yellow card. Both had an interesting duel in the 84th, with Origi who shot, but Gvardiol blocked the shot.
City responds on the other side and Willy Bolly is penalized for pushing Erling Halaand in the 85th.
Mangala cleans a ball started from Akanji and Nottingham could breathe in the 87th.
Jack Grealish was on the pitch on the 87th, for Phil Foden and he would have valuable minutes after the injury.
The match had seven minutes of extra time. Ederson had two great saves against Willy Boly and Anthony Elanga in the 95th. City won after 8 minutes of play and keep the Premier League lead.
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