Both sides start the 2026/27 campaign inside the relegation zone on zero points, desperate to establish early momentum in this high-stakes Matchweek 1 curtain-raiser.
Oliver Glasner begins his tenure as Nottingham Forest head coach at the City Ground, looking to break a long-standing curse where the last six permanent Forest bosses have lost their opening Premier League fixture. Forest enter the season with momentum from back-to-back home pre-season wins against Stade Brestois and Bayer Leverkusen, aiming to improve on their 19th-place starting position.
Leeds United travel to Nottingham sitting 18th and looking to rectify a poor away record from last season, where they collected just 15 points on the road—fewer than all but the two relegated sides. Daniel Farke’s men face a unique scheduling quirk, as they are set to play Forest twice in just three days across the league and EFL Cup.
How the public market prices this match, shown next to our model. For context only — it never changes a signal.
Elo is overall team strength. xG is the goals an average team would score from the same chances.
One strength number built from every result a team has had. Higher means stronger.
Nottingham Forest are the stronger side — 25 rating points clear of Leeds.
xG = goals an average team would score from the same chances. Scoring well above xG means clinical finishing (or a hot streak).
Per-game averages this season. Use the buttons to split the goals by venue.
Both teams across every game this season.
Whole season, home and away combined — Nottingham Forest 5 games, Leeds 5 games.
Premier League (England) standings · both teams highlighted in context.