Nottingham Forest have an immediate opportunity for revenge when they welcome Leeds United back to the City Ground in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, just days after the two clubs met in their Premier League opener.
Oliver Glasner’s first competitive match as Nottingham Forest manager ended in a frustrating 1-0 defeat, with Anton Stach’s late free kick securing victory for Leeds United. With a place in the next round now at stake, the Tricky Trees will be determined to produce a different outcome.
Glasner’s reign at the City Ground began with disappointment on Saturday, although there was little between the teams. The match appeared destined to finish goalless, with both sides struggling to create clear opportunities from open play and relying heavily on set pieces. However, Forest were finally punished in the 88th minute, when Stach converted a free kick to give Leeds all three points.
Despite the result, there were encouraging aspects for Glasner and the Austrian arrives with an impressive reputation after guiding Crystal Palace to UEFA Europa Conference League glory last season. His ability to construct organised, disciplined teams should eventually benefit Forest, although implementing his methods will require time.
That is particularly important given the instability surrounding the club. Glasner is remarkably Forest’s fifth manager in less than a year, leaving him responsible for establishing some much-needed continuity. Pre-season victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Brest demonstrated the squad’s potential, but competitive results will ultimately determine whether the new manager can quickly win over the City Ground support.
Glasner could give opportunities to several players who did not start the Premier League opener, although he will be wary of weakening his team excessively. An early home elimination would represent an unwanted second consecutive defeat at the beginning of his tenure.
Leeds successfully limited their opportunities from open play on Saturday, forcing the hosts to rely heavily on dead-ball situations. Glasner will want quicker passing and more movement between the lines to create better opportunities around the penalty area. Knowing how narrowly Saturday’s contest was decided should nevertheless give Forest confidence.
Leeds return to Nottingham in excellent spirits after beginning their Premier League campaign with three points and a clean sheet. Daniel Farke’s team enjoyed an impressive return to the top flight last season, finishing 14th with 47 points, only five behind 10th-placed Chelsea.
Their challenge now is avoiding second-season syndrome and one obvious area requiring improvement was defence after Leeds conceded 56 league goals last season. Farke responded during the summer by strengthening his options, bringing in goalkeeper James Trafford alongside centre-backs Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemovic.
Keeping Forest scoreless on opening weekend therefore represented an encouraging early indication that Leeds could become more difficult to break down. Stach’s winner also demonstrated the importance of set pieces in tight contests, something Farke will again look to exploit on Tuesday.
Recent history favours Leeds and the head-to-head record provides further encouragement for the visitors. Leeds have now won four of their last five meetings with Nottingham Forest, establishing a notable recent advantage in this fixture. However, defeating the same opponent twice away from home within a matter of days is rarely straightforward.
Both managers will have analysed Saturday’s contest closely, meaning tactical adjustments should be expected. Squad rotation could also make this encounter more open than the league meeting. Forest know they were only one late set piece away from taking something from the first game, while Leeds have already demonstrated that they can remain patient and find a way to win at the City Ground. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Oliver Glasner is expected to use the clash as an opportunity to assess the depth of his squad after Saturday’s narrow Premier League defeat to Leeds United. With another meeting against the same opposition arriving only days later, several changes are likely, although Forest should still field a strong side as Glasner searches for his first competitive victory.
Nicolo Savona and Ryan Yates are unavailable due to injury but otherwise, Forest have a relatively healthy squad to choose from, and there are no confirmed suspension concerns ahead of the cup tie. That should give Glasner considerable flexibility when rotating his starting XI.
One player who could benefit from those changes is goalkeeper John Victor, who is expected to replace the regular first-choice option between the posts. Summer signing Ousmane Diomande is also in contention to make his Nottingham Forest debut following his arrival from Sporting Lisbon.
Forest are expected to line up in Glasner’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, with John Victor starting in goal. Zach Abbott should operate on the right side of the three-man defence, with Ousmane Diomande in the central position and Murillo completing the back three from the left. Diomande’s physicality and ability to progress possession should make him particularly suited to Glasner’s system.
Ola Aina is expected to operate as the right wing-back, while Luca Netz should occupy the left wing-back position. Both will be encouraged to advance when Forest have possession, providing the width that allows the two attacking midfielders to move into central areas.
In midfield, Xaver Schlager and Nicolas Dominguez should form the central partnership. Schlager can provide defensive aggression and pressing intensity, while Dominguez offers energy and the ability to carry possession forward. Their battle against Leeds United’s midfield could be particularly important after Saturday’s match was largely decided by small margins.
Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi should operate as the two attacking midfielders behind the striker. Hutchinson can drift between midfield and attack and look to receive possession between the lines, while Hudson-Odoi provides a more direct threat through his pace and dribbling ability. Both will need to offer greater creativity than Forest managed during the Premier League meeting.
Chris Wood is expected to lead the attack as the central striker. His aerial strength and penalty-area presence should provide Forest with a clear focal point, particularly when Aina and Netz deliver crosses from the wing-back positions.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Victor; Abott, Diomande, Murillo; Aina, Schlager, Dominguez, Netz; Hutchison, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Daniel Farke is expected to rotate his Leeds United side for the EFL Cup meeting with Nottingham Forest, particularly with the teams having already faced each other in the Premier League just days earlier. Saturday’s 1-0 victory gives the visitors confidence, but the cup provides Farke with an opportunity to assess several members of his squad while maintaining enough experience to compete for progression.
Leeds are without several important players. Wilfried Gnonto and Noah Okafor are unavailable, reducing Farke’s attacking options, while Mateo Joseph continues his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Ilia Gruev is also sidelined because of a knee problem. Gabriel Gudmundsson missed the opening league fixture with a thigh injury and could again be rested rather than risked. There are no confirmed suspension concerns affecting the proposed starting XI.
Farke could consequently turn to several players who are pushing for more minutes. Dan James, Sean Longstaff, Sam Byram, and Largie Ramazani are all strong candidates to come into the starting lineup as Leeds attempt to record a second victory at the City Ground in the space of five days.
Leeds are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with James Trafford starting in goal. Nico Elvedi should operate on the right of the three-man defence, with Jaka Bijol occupying the central position and Tarik Muharemovic completing the back three on the left. Their primary responsibility will be dealing with Chris Wood’s physical presence while remaining comfortable enough in possession to build from the back.
James Justin should operate as the right wing-back, while Sam Byram is expected to start on the left. Both will have significant defensive responsibilities against Forest’s wide players but should also advance whenever Leeds establish possession.
Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff are expected to form the central midfield partnership. Stach enters the fixture with considerable confidence after scoring the decisive late free kick in Saturday’s 1-0 victory. Longstaff can provide energy, pressing and box-to-box movement alongside him, giving Leeds a physically strong midfield combination.
Further forward, Ramazani and Dan James should occupy the two attacking positions behind the striker. Ramazani’s dribbling and willingness to attack defenders could provide unpredictability, while James’s pace should be particularly useful when Leeds transition quickly from defence to attack.
Lukas Nmecha is expected to lead the line as the centre-forward. His strength and movement should provide an outlet against Forest’s three-man defence, while the speed of Ramazani and James around him gives Farke several ways of attacking the hosts on the counter.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Trafford; Elvedi, Bijol, Muharemovic; Justin, Byram, Stach, Longstaff; Ramazani, James; Nmecha
Wood came close to scoring in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Leeds United, and Nottingham Forest will need to provide him with better service in the rematch after struggling to create clear opportunities.
His physical strength and aerial ability could be particularly important against Leeds’ expected three-man defence. With Ola Aina and Luca Netz providing width and Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi operating behind him, Forest should look to deliver more consistently into areas where Wood is most dangerous.
There is also added familiarity in this fixture, as Wood previously represented Leeds United. If Forest can create more opportunities than they managed at the weekend, his experience and finishing ability make him a strong candidate to provide the decisive moment.
Another closely contested encounter appears likely and Leeds arrive with greater momentum, an excellent recent head-to-head record and renewed confidence after Saturday’s clean sheet. Their defensive improvements could again frustrate Forest.
However, Glasner now has an immediate opportunity to address the problems evident in his first match. Forest should play with greater attacking urgency in a knockout fixture, while home advantage remains significant.
With both managers potentially rotating their teams, there should be more space than in Saturday’s league encounter. Forest can respond to their opening-day disappointment and narrowly secure Glasner’s first competitive victory.
