Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE: Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol goals send City into FA Cup final

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s side peak at the right time to remain on course for silverware

(Getty Images)

Manchester City booked their spot in the FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over a spirited Nottingham Forest side at Wembley.

Forest were on the back foot from the off as the occasion threatened to overwhelm them, with Rico Lewis firing City ahead inside the opening two minutes.

They improved after the restart but Josko Gvardiol’s thumping header shortly after half-time meant Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had a mountain to climb, and despite hitting the woodwork three times - twice through Morgan Gibbs-White - they were unable to find their way back into the game.

Victory puts Manchester City into a third successive FA Cup final and Pep Guardiola’s side will face Crystal Palace at Wembley in the showpiece on 17 May. The same day they were dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool, who stormed past Tottenham 5-1 in the top flight, the seven-time FA Cup champions ensured they still have a chance of silverware this season.

Follow all of the latest from the FA Cup semi-final with our live blog below:

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE

• Nottingham Forest take on Manchester City for a place in the FA Cup final | Live on ITV with kick off at 4.30pm BST
• Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Abbott, Milenkovic, Murillo, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Danilo, Toffolo, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
• Manchester City XI: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Lewis, Kovacic, Bernardo, Savinho, Grealish, Marmoush
• '2 GOAL! City make dream start as Lewis slots home early opener [NFO 0-1 MCI]
• '46 CHANCE! Electric Elanga nearly scores with first touch after the break [NFO 0-1 MCI]
• '51 GOAL! Gvardiol heads in from close range to double City's lead [NFO 0-2 MCI]
• '65 HITS THE WOODWORK! Incredible Gibbs-White volley thunders off the crossbar [NFO 0-2 MCI]
• '69 HITS THE WOODWORK! Gibbs-White hits the far post with tight-angled attempt [NFO 0-2 MCI]

[27 April 2025 13:15 · Flo Clifford]

How to watch

The FA Cup semi-final is due to kick off at 4.30pm BST on Sunday 27 April at Wembley Stadium.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the action live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 3.30pm BST. A live stream will be available via ITVX.

[27 April 2025 13:10 · Flo Clifford]

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE

For Manchester City, the FA Cup remains their only chance of silverware and would go a fraction of the way to salvaging what has been an unexpectedly torrid season for Pep Guardiola’s serial winners.

But they look to have peaked at the right time, with an uptick in form taking them to fourth in the league, and they look a fairly solid bet for Champions League qualification.

And the FA Cup is one of many trophies they’ve become accustomed to winning, having won seven editions, most recently in 2023-24, so they’ve certainly got the form.

[27 April 2025 13:05 · Flo Clifford]

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE

Nottingham Forest have the chance to disrupt ‘Big Six’ hegemony in the FA Cup. Since Portsmouth v Cardiff in the 2008 final, there’s always been a ‘Big Six’ club in the final, with both finalists often coming from the traditional behemoths of the Premier League.

Forest are having a dream season, with Champions League qualification remaining a distinct possibility.

They could finish this season lifting their first silverware since the League Cup in 1990, and with a European place to boot - a far cry from the squad that was staving off relegation not long ago.

[27 April 2025 13:00 · Flo Clifford]

Good afternoon

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the second FA Cup semi-final, between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.

Last night’s affair between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa was a cracker; expect more of the same today.

We’ll have all of the build-up and action here, so don’t go anywhere...