Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United Prediction 25.08.2026 | Carabao Cup

Nottingham Forest enter this cup tie fueled by a deep sense of frustration and an urgent desire to deliver a reaction in front of their faithful home crowd. Saturday’s official debut for new Austrian manager Oliver Glasner—who replaced Vítor Pereira over the summer—ended in a bitter reality check.

Despite the Tricky Trees commanding a slight 54% advantage in possession and looking more threatening in attack, a chronic lack of clinical finishing in the final third proved costly. The team ultimately buckled on home turf in the 87th minute, conceding the lone goal in a painful 1-0 defeat.

Consequently, the Carabao Cup arrives at the perfect time for Glasner to shuffle his deck. It offers an ideal opportunity to hand summer signings their chance from the bench and, crucially, to restore a winning momentum before a daunting Premier League trip to Anfield to face Liverpool next weekend.

The Austrian tactician is highly expected to implement rotations to freshen up the squad and evaluate his options in a competitive setting. This reshuffle could hand 34-year-old center-forward Chris Wood a spot in the starting XI from the very first whistle.

On the other hand, morale in the Leeds United camp is at an all-time high following a perfect opening to their league campaign. Although they secured their return to the top flight through a dramatic spring playoff, Saturday's triumph at the City Ground demonstrated that they possess an exceptional Premier League mentality.

The absolute hero for the Yorkshire side was German midfielder Anton Stach, who silenced the home crowd in the 87th minute with a brilliant strike to secure three priceless points to start the season. What pleased the coaching staff even more was how effectively the team completely suffocated Forest's attacking threat.

However, the visitors' backroom staff are fully aware that cup competitions in August are full of traps and that the Tricky Trees will be out for blood on Tuesday night. The League Cup is a tournament the Whites traditionally take very seriously, and given the psychological edge they gained just days ago, they have every reason to believe they can secure a spot in the third round.

Unlike their midweek hosts, the Yorkshire visitors arrive with a completely clean bill of health and zero injury concerns. Nevertheless, it is highly likely that their manager will choose to rest a few of his key figures to keep the squad fresh.