Man City 2-2 Nottm Forest Player Ratings: Erling Haaland Misfires as City Drop Vital Points in 2-2 Stalemate

Manchester City were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest in a Premier League clash that exposed familiar frailties despite total dominance in possession. Man City controlled 70% of the ball and racked up 21 shots, but Forest’s ruthless counter-attacking approach ensured the champions-elect dropped valuable points in the title race.

Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rodri twice put City in front, yet Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson responded with clinical finishes to stun the home crowd. While Pep Guardiola’s side dictated tempo and territory, Forest showed resilience, discipline, and belief to capitalize on key moments.

The result keeps City second on 60 points, seven behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, while Nottm Forest climbs out of the relegation zone into 17th after a massive point on the road. Here are Sportsdunia's Man City vs Nottm Forest player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Elliot Anderson delivered a Man of the Match display, scoring and dominating midfield battles.
• Rodri once again underlined his importance with a goal and midfield control.
• Erling Haaland endured a frustrating night, missing key chances and struggling for involvement.
• Forest’s counterattacks repeatedly punished City’s defensive transitions.

Man City Player Ratings vs Nottm Forest

Here are the Man City player ratings against Nottm Forest.

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6.0: Made a couple of decent saves, but we felt he was left a bit exposed by his defence for both goals. His distribution was perfect, which is a plus. However, conceding two at home never looks good for a keeper of his caliber.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 6.5: A standard performance from the Portuguese centre-back. He was tidy in possession with 96 touches and a high pass completion rate. Yet, the defence he marshaled was breached twice by swift counters. He won most of his long balls but looked a step off the pace when Forest broke quickly.

Marc Guéhi - 6.5: Like his partner, Guéhi was comfortable on the ball and strong in the air, winning five aerial duels. However, the defensive unit as a whole struggled to contain Forest's attacks. He missed a big chance with a header late in the game that could have won it for City. A mixed bag, really.

Rayan Aït-Nouri - 7.5: One of City's brighter sparks, especially going forward. He delivered a pinpoint cross for Rodri's goal, a crucial contribution. His pass accuracy was near-perfect, and he was always looking to create. It was a surprise to see him substituted, as he was causing problems.

Matheus Nunes - 6.0: A very chaotic performance, listed as a defender but popping up everywhere. He lost possession a staggering 20 times, which is simply too much at this level. While he showed flashes of driving forward, his end product and defensive discipline were lacking in this match.

Midfielders

Rayan Cherki - 8.5: The best player in a sky-blue shirt, by a mile. What stood out to us was his constant desire to make things happen. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal and created three chances in total. His movement and creativity were a joy to watch, even if his teammates couldn't always match his wavelength. The highest-rated player for a reason.

Rodri - 8.0: Scored a fantastic header to put City back in front, showing his importance in both boxes. He was the metronome as usual, with over 100 touches and sublime passing. He did get dribbled past a couple of times, but his goal and overall control of the midfield were vital.

Bernardo Silva - 8.0: The captain led by example with his tireless work rate. He was everywhere, taking 122 touches and constantly probing the Forest defence. He had a few shots and created several opportunities. A classic industrious performance we've come to expect.

Phil Foden - 7.0: A decent outing for Foden, who was involved in some of City’s best build-up play. He created a couple of nice chances and linked up well. However, he wasn't as decisive as he could be and was taken off with about 15 minutes to go. Solid, but not spectacular.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 5.5: A night to forget for the big Norwegian. He was completely anonymous, touching the ball just 13 times. What's more worrying is that he missed two big chances. He looked frustrated and isolated, unable to impact the game in any meaningful way.

Antoine Semenyo - 7.5: Took his goal very well, showing great composure to give City the lead. He was a willing runner and looked sharp throughout. His work rate was commendable, and he was one of the few attackers who could leave with his head held high.

Substitutes

Jérémy Doku - N/A: Came on and had one wayward shot but didn't have enough time to truly influence the game.

Savinho - N/A: Introduced late but barely got a touch of the ball.

Abdukodir Khusanov - N/A: A late defensive change that didn't alter the outcome.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 6.0: His team had all the ball but lacked the killer instinct. The tactical setup seemed right on paper, but they were repeatedly caught out by the same counter-attacking strategy. He couldn't find a solution from the bench to break down a resolute Forest side for a winner.

Nottm Forest Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Check out the Nottm Forest player ratings for the Man City vs Nottm Forest match.

Goalkeeper

Matz Sels - 7.0: He couldn't do much about the two goals he conceded. Made three important saves to keep his team in the contest, especially one from Bernardo Silva. Commanded his area well and deserved his yellow card for some cheeky time-wasting at the end.

Defenders

Neco Williams - 6.5: A battling performance. He made a few crucial tackles and interceptions. His forward runs were a bit naive, getting caught offside twice, but he stuck to his defensive tasks diligently before being subbed.

Murillo - 7.5: A colossal performance at the heart of the defence. He seemed to block everything, with seven clearances and three blocked shots. He was an absolute warrior and a key reason why City's high-powered attack was frustrated for long periods.

Jair Cunha - 6.5: Stood firm alongside Murillo, making four clearances of his own. His passing was a bit wayward, but his primary job was to defend, and he did it effectively.

Nikola Milenković - 6.0: The weakest link in the backline. He picked up a yellow card and looked nervous at times. He only won one of his two duels and seemed to struggle with the movement of City's attackers.

Ola Aina - 6.0: A tough evening for the wing-back. He worked hard but struggled to contain the threat down his flank. He won a decent number of duels but was often on the back foot and offered little going forward.

Midfielders

Ibrahim Sangaré - 6.5: Picked up a first-half yellow card but kept his discipline well after that. He kept the ball moving but didn't stamp his authority on the game. A quiet but steady presence in the engine room.

Elliot Anderson - 8.5: Man of the match, without a doubt. An absolutely immense performance. He scored the crucial second goal with a brilliant strike. But it was his all-around game that impressed us most - winning 11 duels and making five tackles. He was everywhere.

Nicolás Domínguez - 7.0: He was the team's disruptor for 63 minutes. He won an incredible number of duels and drew fouls to relieve pressure. His tireless work laid the foundation for Forest's resilience before he was substituted.

Forwards

Morgan Gibbs-White - 8.0: The captain delivered when it mattered most. He scored the first equalizer with a cool finish and was a constant thorn in City's side with his direct running. He led the press and embodied the team's fighting spirit.

Igor Jesus - 7.5: His clever header set up Gibbs-White's goal. He worked tirelessly to hold up the ball and bring others into play, which was vital for Forest's counter-attacking style. A really effective performance before being taken off.

Substitutes

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 7.5: A game-changing substitution. Came on and immediately provided the assist for the equalizer. His directness and quality made a huge difference in the final third.

Taiwo Awoniyi - N/A: Replaced the tired Igor Jesus but had little impact.

Morato - N/A: Brought on late to help see out the draw.

Ryan Yates - N/A: A late sub to add fresh legs in midfield.

Manager

V. de Oliveira Lopes Pereira - 8.5: Executed a perfect game plan. His team was organized, disciplined, and brave. He identified the city's vulnerability to the counter and exploited it brilliantly. The substitutions were timed perfectly and made a direct impact.

Man of the Match

Elliot Anderson was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Erling Haaland was the worst performer.