Nottingham Forest are tipped to begin the 2026-27 Premier League season with a home win when they face Leeds on Saturday, 22 August 2026. The opening-round fixture is scheduled to begin at 15:00 BST, or 17:00 Moscow time, with Forest regarded as the stronger side in the pre-match assessment.
Forest finished 16th in the Premier League last season, ending the campaign five points clear of the relegation zone. Their domestic position contrasted with a much deeper run in European competition, as they reached the semi-final stage of the Europa League play-offs.
The club have also taken an active approach to preparations for the new campaign. Forest played nine friendly matches during pre-season and recorded five victories. That run of fixtures has provided the team with an extensive period of preparation before the competitive season begins.
The hosts’ overall record from last season was mixed. Although their progress in the Europa League represented a significant achievement, their final league position meant they were involved in a battle to avoid relegation for much of the campaign. They nevertheless managed to finish above the bottom three, retaining their Premier League status for another season.
Leeds finished one place above Forest in last season’s Premier League table, ending 14th with a three-point advantage over their opponents. Despite that higher position, Leeds also faced the possibility of relegation during the campaign and were not entirely clear of danger until the season had concluded.
Their preparations for the new season have included six friendly matches. Leeds lost only once in normal time across those games, although that defeat came in their most recent stated setback, when they were beaten 3-2 by Wrexham.
The difference in the number of pre-season fixtures means Forest have had a longer schedule of warm-up matches, while Leeds have suffered just one regulation-time defeat in their six games. Even so, the prediction favours the home side in the opening meeting between the clubs.
The recommended outcome is a Nottingham Forest victory. With home advantage and five wins from nine pre-season matches, Forest are expected to claim the points against Leeds in the first Premier League round of the new season.