Manchester City secured a 2–0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday, earning a spot in the FA Cup final where they will face Crystal Palace.
Pep Guardiola’s men made an early statement, with Rico Lewis opening the scoring just two minutes into the match. Josko Gvardiol later added a second after the break to ensure a smooth passage into the final.
City will now meet Crystal Palace on May 17, after the Eagles cruised past Aston Villa with a 3–0 win in Saturday’s semi-final clash.
This will be City’s 14th appearance in an FA Cup final, presenting an opportunity to lift the prestigious trophy for the eighth time, and the third under Guardiola, who took over the reins in 2016.
After falling short against Manchester United in last season’s final, City are aiming to bounce back, with Guardiola keen to add silverware in what has been a turbulent season.
Currently sitting fourth in the Premier League standings with four games left, City are also pushing to secure a top-five finish to guarantee Champions League football next season. They head into the FA Cup final as favourites, especially after their emphatic 5–2 victory over Crystal Palace earlier this month at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite reaching the FA Cup final, City were dealt a blow at Wembley when news filtered through that Liverpool’s win over Tottenham had officially ended their reign as Premier League champions after four consecutive titles.
As for Forest, they must quickly shift focus back to their league campaign. Sitting two points behind third-placed Newcastle with a game in hand, they remain in the hunt for a first Champions League qualification since the 1980/81 season.
While Forest fans initially created a lively atmosphere at Wembley, with noticeable empty sections in the City end, it was Guardiola’s side who quickly seized control, finding the net early and never relinquishing their advantage.