Nottingham Forest vs Leeds: Who Will Win the Championship Clash?  

Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are meeting for the second time in just three days. Remarkably, neither side has had much time to cool down from the first result. Leeds struck late to win 1-0 in the Premier League on August 22, 2026. Now, both sides return to the City Ground on August 25 for an EFL Cup second-round rematch. So, who really holds the upper hand in this suddenly intense rivalry?

This article breaks down both matches, the current form of each club, the freshest team news, and a clear prediction. By the end, you will know exactly what to expect from the Forest vs Leeds clash and why it matters more than a typical August fixture.

Quick Answer: Key Facts at a Glance

• Most recent result: Leeds United won 1-0 away at Nottingham Forest on August 22, 2026, in the Premier League.
• Next meeting: EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) Second Round, City Ground, Tuesday, August 25, 2026, kick-off at 8:00 PM BST.
• Current league standing: Leeds sit 9th with 3 points; Forest sit 15th with 0 points after Matchweek 1.
• Head-to-head momentum: Leeds have won two of the last three meetings, yet Forest historically dominate at the City Ground.
• Prediction: Forest look the more likely side to respond at home, though Leeds’ recent form keeps this genuinely open.

Is This Really a “Championship” Clash? Let’s Set the Record Straight

Many fans still picture Leeds United as a Championship club. That reputation, however, no longer applies. Leeds won promotion back to the Premier League and then finished an impressive 14th in the 2025-26 season, collecting 47 points and even reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, has played Premier League football continuously since 2022. Therefore, this fixture is not a Championship clash at all. Instead, it is a Premier League rivalry that has now spilled into the EFL Cup as well. Both details matter, since they change how each club plans, recruits, and sets its ambitions for 2026-27.

Two Meetings, Three Days: How the Rivalry Reignited

Few Premier League rivalries get rekindled twice within one week. Consequently, this stretch of fixtures has become one of the most talked-about storylines of the young season.

Premier League Matchweek 1: Leeds Strike Late to Win 1-0

Forest hosted Leeds on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 season. Surprisingly, the hosts actually created the better chances throughout the match. Igor Jesus headed narrowly wide, while Nikola Milenković struck the post with a first-half header. Similarly, substitute Chris Wood dragged a promising chance off target late on.

Leeds, however, made their pressure count. Tarik Muharemović forced a smart save from Matz Sels with 20 minutes remaining. Then, in the 88th minute, Anton Stach curled a stunning free-kick beyond the Forest wall to snatch all three points.

Notably, that goal marked Leeds’ first top-flight win at the City Ground since the 1971-72 season. It also ended a 14-match unbeaten home run for Forest against Leeds and handed new Forest boss Oliver Glasner a defeat in his first match in charge.

EFL Cup Second Round: The Immediate Rematch

Just three days later, the same two sides meet again at the same venue. This time, though, the stakes and the team selections look different. Both managers plan to rotate heavily, since domestic cup football often becomes a chance to test squad depth early in the season.

For Forest, that likely means a first appearance for new signing Ousmane Diomande. It could also mean a start in goal for John Victor instead of Sels. For Leeds, several key attacking players remain unavailable, which naturally reduces their attacking firepower for this particular tie.

Head-to-Head: The Last Three Meetings

Recent history between these clubs has swung back and forth. Indeed, the table below shows exactly how.

As the table shows, Leeds have won two of the last three meetings. Even so, Forest still boast one of the strongest home records against Leeds in recent seasons, since their long unbeaten run only just ended.

Team News and Injury Updates

Naturally, both squads head into the EFL Cup tie with a few notable absences. Understanding these gaps, therefore, helps explain why Tuesday’s lineups could look very different from Matchweek 1.

Nottingham Forest Injuries and Fitness

Nicolo Savona and Ryan Yates continue to sit out through injury, so Glasner cannot call on either player for the cup tie. Morgan Gibbs-White also misses out. On the positive side, Glasner otherwise has a strong squad to choose from, and he plans to use this game to assess his options in depth.

Leeds United Injuries and Fitness

Leeds face a longer absentee list. Wilfried Gnonto, Noah Okafor, and Mateo Joseph are all unavailable, and Joseph, in particular, is still working his way back from an ACL injury. In addition, Gabriel Gudmundsson has a hamstring problem that could keep him out for around four weeks. As a result, Daniel Farke’s attacking options look notably thinner for this trip to the City Ground.

Players Who Could Decide the Clash

Ultimately, a handful of individuals could easily swing the result in either direction.

• Anton Stach (Leeds): His free-kick won the first meeting, and his set-piece quality remains a genuine threat.
• Chris Wood (Forest): A proven Premier League finisher who offers Forest a different attacking option from the bench or the start.
• Ousmane Diomande (Forest): The club’s marquee £34 million signing could make an immediate impact if he debuts in this game.
• Harry Wilson (Leeds): Fulham’s Player of the Year last season now brings creativity and end product to Leeds’ attack.
• Tarik Muharemović (Leeds): Already a threat from set pieces, this commanding defender adds steel to both boxes.

The Manager Battle: Oliver Glasner vs Daniel Farke

This clash also doubles as an early test for two contrasting managerial situations. Glasner only recently replaced Vitor Pereira, becoming Forest’s fifth permanent manager in less than a year. Despite that instability, he arrives with real pedigree, having guided Crystal Palace to the Conference League title in the previous campaign.

Interestingly, Glasner had won his first league match in charge at four of his five previous clubs, so Saturday’s defeat broke a strong personal trend. Even so, that result also fits a much longer City Ground pattern, since each of Forest’s last six permanent managers lost their opening Premier League match in charge.

Farke, on the other hand, enjoys far more stability at Leeds. His side impressed throughout 2025-26, and he will want to build on that momentum rather than let one strong week create complacency. Ultimately, this game gives both managers an early opportunity to shape squad confidence for the season ahead.

Current Form and League Position

After Matchweek 1, Leeds sit 9th in the Premier League table with three points, while Forest sit 15th with zero points. That gap looks small on paper, yet it still shapes the mood heading into Tuesday’s rematch. Leeds will want to prove their win was no fluke, while Forest will look to show that their performance level, rather than the scoreline, better reflects their true quality.

Prediction: Who Wins the Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United Clash?

Forest edge this one, at least on current evidence. They created the better chances in the league defeat, and home advantage plus a point to prove should work in their favor. Glasner also guided Crystal Palace to cup success only last season, so he understands exactly what a strong cup run demands.

Even so, Leeds still deserve real respect here. Despite squad rotation and several attacking absences, they showed real quality on the counter-attack just days ago. Therefore, this rematch looks close, but Forest appear slightly better placed to come out on top and advance in the EFL Cup.

What’s Next for Both Clubs

Beyond Tuesday’s cup tie, both teams face quick turnarounds. Forest travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday, August 29, while Leeds host Brentford the following day. Both fixtures will quickly test how well each side can build on, or bounce back from, this week’s results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United a Championship match?

No. Both clubs currently play in the Premier League. Leeds returned to the top flight for the 2025-26 season and finished 14th, while Forest has remained in the Premier League since 2022.

Who won the last Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United match?

Leeds United won 1-0 at the City Ground on August 22, 2026, thanks to a late Anton Stach free-kick.

When do Nottingham Forest and Leeds United play next?

The two sides meet again on August 25, 2026, in the EFL Cup Second Round at the City Ground, with kick-off at 8:00 PM BST.

What is the head-to-head record between Forest and Leeds?

Leeds have won two of the last three meetings, while Forest won the other. Even so, Forest historically hold a strong record against Leeds at the City Ground.

Who is the favorite to win the EFL Cup rematch?

Forest hold a narrow edge because of home advantage, motivation, and their performance level in the first meeting. However, heavy rotation from both sides makes the result genuinely unpredictable.

Final Verdict

This Forest vs Leeds clash carries far more intrigue than a routine August fixture. Altogether, two matches in three days, several new signings, and two managers under different kinds of pressure combine to make this rivalry worth watching closely. Whatever happens on August 25, one thing looks certain: Forest and Leeds will keep producing tight, dramatic contests throughout 2026-27.