Date of Tips: 20/08/2026
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (13:50 20/08/2026) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
Nottingham Forest FC
v Leeds United FC 
City Ground, Nottingham
Premier League Matchday 1 
22-08-2026 14:00
Nottingham Form
Leeds United Form
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United prediction points towards a tight opening-day contest when the two sides begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaigns at the City Ground on Saturday, 22 August. Kick-off is at 3:00 pm BST, with Forest hoping home advantage can make the difference against a Leeds side arriving after an encouraging pre-season.
There is enough attacking quality on both sides to make this interesting, although an opening weekend can bring a little caution too. Forest were strong at home towards the end of last season, while Leeds produced several eye-catching pre-season results. A draw looks very possible, with 1-1 the preferred score.
This is Gameweek 1 of the 2026/27 Premier League season, so neither side has any early league position to protect or chase yet. The main objective is simply to start well.
Forest finished 16th last season and begin the new campaign under Oliver Glasner, who takes charge of his first competitive match. Leeds ended 2025/26 in 14th and will be aiming for a more comfortable season this time around.
The City Ground could prove important. Forest won 60% of their final 10 home matches last season, giving them a reasonable foundation for this opener.
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds kicks off at 3:00 pm BST on Saturday, 22 August.
The match falls within the traditional Saturday 3:00 pm slot, so an official UK television broadcast has not been confirmed because of blackout restrictions.
Internationally, Eswatini TV is scheduled to show the fixture live.
Nottingham Forest will be without Nicolo Savona through injury.
Glasner could hand competitive debuts to several summer additions, with Ousmane Diomande, Gustavo Sa and Xaver Schlager all in contention. Established players including Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood are also expected to remain central to Forest’s plans.
Leeds have their own availability problems. Wilfried Gnonto and Gabriel Gudmundsson are sidelined, while new signing Noah Okafor is unlikely to start because he is not yet considered fully match fit.
Nico Elvedi has arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach and could feature, while Leeds have also added James Trafford and Tarik Muharemovic. Joel Piroe and Sebastiaan Bornauw have departed on loan.
Forest’s full starting XI remains difficult to call before Glasner’s first competitive team selection, but several established players are expected to feature.
Nottingham Forest predicted XI: Matz Sels; Ola Aina; Nicolás Domínguez; Morgan Gibbs-White; Chris Wood.
Leeds could include several of their summer arrivals alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack.
Leeds United predicted XI: James Trafford; Tarik Muharemovic; Nico Elvedi; Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Forest enjoyed a positive pre-season, including a 2-0 victory against Stade Brest and another win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Their home performances towards the end of last season are also encouraging. Forest won six of their final 10 league matches at the City Ground and scored in each of their last five home games, averaging 1.80 goals across that sequence.
Leeds also produced some lively pre-season football. They beat Augsburg 4-0, RB Leipzig 2-0, Liverpool 4-2 and Sunderland 1-0, although they were involved in a dramatic 5-4 defeat against Manchester United.
Their away record last season was less convincing, with a 33% win rate on the road.
The teams shared the honours in their two Premier League meetings last season.
Forest won 3-1 at the City Ground in November 2025 before Leeds responded with a 3-1 home victory on 6 February 2026.
Across the last 25 meetings, Forest have recorded 10 victories and Leeds eight. That relatively balanced record supports the feeling that this opener could be closely fought.
Forest scored in each of their final five home matches, averaging 1.80 goals.
Both teams scored in 60% of Forest’s last 10 matches.
Forest won 60% of their final 10 home games last season, while Leeds had a 33% away win rate.
Historically, 84% of meetings between the clubs have produced more than 1.5 goals.
Forest’s home advantage makes them slightly more appealing, but Leeds showed enough attacking quality during pre-season to make an outright home win difficult to trust.
The safer match-result angle is Nottingham Forest or Draw. Forest’s recent home record supports them, while a 1-1 outcome remains very plausible if Leeds carry some of their pre-season attacking momentum into the opening weekend.
Match Result Prediction: Nottingham Forest or Draw. Bet with bet365.
There are reasonable arguments for both sides finding the net. Forest scored in every one of their final five home games, while Leeds showed plenty of attacking intent during pre-season.
BTTS also landed in 60% of Forest’s last 10 matches. For anyone comparing wider BTTS tips, this fixture fits the profile of a game where neither defence looks certain to dominate.
BTTS Prediction: Both Teams To Score – Yes. Bet with bet365.
Although both teams can score, this does not necessarily need to become a high-scoring game.
Opening fixtures can be cautious, particularly when managers are still settling new signings and trying to establish combinations. A 1-1 draw fits both the BTTS call and a lower overall goal total.
Over/Under Goals Prediction: Under 2.5 goals. Bet with bet365.
A 1-1 draw looks like the most natural Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United correct score prediction.
Forest’s home record gives them every chance of scoring, but Leeds arrive with enough attacking threat to answer back. Neither side looks overwhelmingly stronger heading into Gameweek 1.
Correct Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds United. Bet with bet365.
Chris Wood is the preferred first-goalscorer option.
He remains one of Forest’s main attacking figures and is expected to feature at the heart of their forward line. With Forest at home and fancied to make a positive start, Wood is the most sensible candidate.
First Goalscorer Prediction: Chris Wood. Bet with bet365.
There are no specific corner figures to lean on, so this is a lower-confidence call.
Forest should enjoy periods of territorial pressure at home, while Leeds have enough attacking intent to contribute at the other end. That combination makes over 8.5 total corners a reasonable preference.
Corners Prediction: Over 8.5 total corners. Bet with bet365.
This is another market where there are no specific disciplinary statistics to use.
As an opening-day fixture between two sides who finished in the lower half last season, the match should remain competitive for long spells. Over 3.5 total cards is the slight preference if the game becomes increasingly physical as it develops.
Cards Prediction: Over 3.5 total cards. Bet with bet365.
The most coherent combination is Nottingham Forest or Draw, both teams to score and Chris Wood to score anytime.
That covers the possibility of Leeds finding the net while still backing Forest’s stronger recent home profile. It also fits the main 1-1 correct-score prediction perfectly.
Bet Builder Tip: Nottingham Forest or Draw, Both Teams To Score – Yes and Chris Wood to score anytime. Bet with bet365.
There is little separating these teams before the season begins. Forest have home advantage and finished last term strongly enough at the City Ground to deserve respect, but Leeds’ attacking performances during pre-season suggest they can cause problems.
A tight draw looks the most convincing overall outcome.
Final prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds United.
Best match-result tip: Nottingham Forest or Draw.
Goals prediction: Under 2.5 goals.
BTTS prediction: Yes.
18+ New customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets only. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
Visit our football previews & predictions page for more betting tips on upcoming matches.
A draw is the main prediction, with Nottingham Forest or Draw preferred as the safer match-result selection.
The match kicks off at 3:00 pm BST on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
The fixture takes place at the City Ground in Nottingham.
Top Casinos
Top New Bookmakers
Top Offers
Top Rated Bookmakers
Best Football Bookies
