The Premier League curtain-raiser sees Nottingham Forest host Leeds in a fixture that has reliably delivered goals, with three of the last four league meetings producing four or more. Forest's 3-4-2-1 setup leans heavily on wing-backs Aina and Williams to supply Igor Jesus…
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds: Gudmundsson Blow Clouds Opener
Nottingham Forest kick off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign against Leeds on Saturday, 22 August at 14:00 BST, with the two sides set for an immediate rematch in the EFL Cup second round just three days later. The fixture already carries an extra edge; Daniel Farke’s Whites travel to the East Midlands shorn of a key defensive cog, while Oliver Glasner’s new-look Forest seek to shake off an uneven pre-season in front of their own supporters.
Team News and Injury Latest
Leeds will definitely be without left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson after the Swede suffered a suspected hamstring injury against Liverpool in Chicago. Farke has confirmed a four-week absence, making deputy James Justin the likely starter. Ilia Gruev remains sidelined with a meniscus knee problem from April, while goalkeeper Lucas Perri is a wrist-and-hand doubt and Noah Okafor is still short of full match fitness. Brenden Aaronson is expected to get the nod in attacking midfield after an energetic pre-season.
Forest’s own injury list is shorter but significant: Nicolo Savona (knee) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh) are both touch-and-go, while Chris Wood missed the final friendly against Bayer Leverkusen and is a doubt. Igor Jesus has pressed his claim to start after a lively pre-season, and summer arrivals Dan Ndoye and James McAtee are pushing for places following strong displays in warm-up games. Murillo returned in time to play 45 minutes against Barcelona and is expected to be available.
Pre-Season Form and Context
Forest’s summer was a mixed bag. Wins over Notts County and Blackburn were followed by consecutive 1-0 defeats to Udinese and Barcelona before a late Arnaud Kalimuendo goal earned a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Glasner has candidly asked for patience, warning that his high-intensity system may take three to six months to bed in. Leeds, by contrast, have carried positive momentum, beating three top-division opponents and drawing 1-1 with Manchester United inside 90 minutes during their US tour. Farke’s side appear further along in their development, but the loss of Gudmundsson has robbed them of a crucial attacking outlet on the left flank.
Key Battle: Morgan Gibbs-White vs a Makeshift Leeds Rearguard
With Gudmundsson absent and defensive concerns lingering—Sebastiaan Bornauw’s future remains unclear after a failed move—Forest’s chief creator Morgan Gibbs-White will look to exploit any uncertainty down Leeds’ left side. Gibbs-White scored 15 goals and created 49 chances last season, and his combination with Igor Jesus’s physicality could test a Leeds backline that has not fielded a settled unit in pre-season. If James Justin is pressed into action as an unnatural left-back, Forest’s right-sided overloads involving Ndoye or Hutchinson could become the game’s decisive channel.
Forest and Leeds will learn a lot about their respective top-flight readiness in 90 minutes, but with the same opponents meeting again in the EFL Cup in midweek, both managers may hold a little back. For now, early momentum and a statement performance are the prizes on offer.
