Nottingham vs Leeds Prediction & Betting Tips (25 August)

Nottingham Forest and Leeds United meet at the City Ground on 25 August 2026 for their EFL Cup second round clash, just three days after their Premier League opener at the same venue. The 2026/2027 season has already brought renewed ambition for both sides, with Forest under Oliver Glasner and Leeds under Daniel Farke preparing their squads for a demanding campaign across multiple competitions.

The Tricky Trees enter this cup tie looking to build momentum after a mixed pre-season schedule. Forest's 2026/2027 squad features key figures such as Matz Sels, Nikola Milenković, Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White, and new signing Ousmane Diomande, though Ryan Yates and Nicolo Savona remain sidelined through injury. In their final Premier League outings of the previous campaign, Forest battled to a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth and fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.

Leeds United arrive at the City Ground with confidence after an impressive pre-season that included a stunning 4-2 victory over Liverpool and a dominant 4-0 win against FC Augsburg. Daniel Farke's 2026/2027 squad is led by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson, Harry Wilson, and Ethan Ampadu, though Lucas Perri and Gabriel Gudmundsson are unavailable through injury. The Whites concluded their 2025/26 Premier League schedule with a 0-0 draw at Liverpool and a 3-0 defeat at West Ham.

With both sides fielding competitive 2026/2027 squads and eager to advance in the EFL Cup, this second-round tie promises to be a tightly contested affair at the City Ground. European odds reflect the home advantage, with Nottingham Forest priced at 1.85, the draw at 3.60, and Leeds United at 4.10. Considering Forest's strong home record and Leeds' defensive vulnerabilities on the road, our prediction is a 2-1 victory for Nottingham For