Nottm Forest vs Leeds United – Championship Preview
Nottingham Forest
Manager: Nuno Espírito Santo
League Position: 5th (Championship)
VS
EFL Championship – Matchday 35
Friday, 7 March 2025 | 19:45 GMT
The City Ground, Nottingham
Leeds United
Manager: Daniel Farke
League Position: 3rd (Championship)
⚔️ Historic Rivalry Renewed
Match Preview
Two of English football's most historic clubs collide at The City Ground as Nottingham Forest host Leeds United in a crucial Championship promotion six-pointer. Both clubs, having recently tasted Premier League football, are desperate to secure an immediate return to the top flight. Forest, under Nuno Espírito Santo, will rely on their strong home form and passionate support, while Daniel Farke's Leeds bring their possession-dominant style to one of English football's most atmospheric venues. With playoff positions at stake, this promises to be a tactical battle between two managers with proven promotion credentials.
📈 Promotion Race Implications
🔍 Tactical Battle
Forest Approach
Organized defensive structure, counter-attacking threat, set-piece strength, home fortress mentality
Leeds Strategy
Possession dominance, high-intensity press, progressive build-up, attacking full-backs
Key Players & Stats
Morgan Gibbs-White
Attacking Midfielder | Nottingham Forest- ⚽ Goals: 8
- 🎯 Assists: 11
- 📊 Appearances: 32
Crysencio Summerville
Winger | Leeds United- ⚽ Goals: 15
- 🎯 Assists: 8
- 📊 Appearances: 34
Recent Form
Nottingham Forest
Last 5 Championship matches:
Forest have been strong at home, losing just twice at The City Ground all season.
Leeds United
Last 5 Championship matches:
Leeds are in exceptional form with just one defeat in their last 15 matches.
Head to Head Record
Last 10 Competitive Meetings
Forest Wins
3
Draws
4
Leeds Wins
3
Extremely balanced rivalry with both teams enjoying periods of dominance throughout history.
Club Histories
Nottingham Forest
- Founded in 1865, Forest are one of the world's oldest football clubs.
- The club famously won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough.
- Forest have won 1 First Division title, 2 FA Cups, and 4 League Cups in their history.
- The City Ground, situated on the banks of the River Trent, has been their home since 1898.
Leeds United
- Founded in 1919, Leeds are one of England's most passionately supported clubs.
- The club won 3 First Division titles under Don Revie in the 1960s and 70s.
- Leeds reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001 under David O'Leary.
- Elland Road, with its 37,000 capacity, creates one of English football's most intense atmospheres.
Promotion Implications
The Road Back to the Premier League
This fixture carries enormous weight in the Championship promotion race. Both clubs represent fallen giants desperate to reclaim their place among English football's elite. Nottingham Forest's recent Premier League experience, though ending in relegation, has provided valuable top-flight exposure for their squad. Under Nuno, they've maintained a strong core while adapting to the Championship's unique demands.
Leeds United, under Daniel Farke's proven promotion expertise, have assembled one of the Championship's most talented squads. Their possession-based style and attacking quality have made them automatic promotion favorites, but the pressure to deliver immediate return to the Premier League is immense.
The contrast in styles promises an intriguing tactical battle: Forest's organized, counter-attacking approach against Leeds' possession-dominant philosophy. With The City Ground's famous atmosphere adding to the occasion, this encounter could prove decisive in the promotion race and rekindle one of English football's historic rivalries.