Nottingham Forest 0 Leeds United 1: Late Anton Stach free-kick seals opening-weekend Whites win
Leeds United picked up three points at the first time of asking at the City Ground.
Leeds United kickstarted their 2026/27 season in much the same way their previous campaign with a late 1-0 win - this time at Nottingham Forest.
Anton Stach’s 88th-minute free-kick ensured the Whites got off to a perfect start on the road. The German’s whipped effort turned one point into three after a hard-fought defensive showing kept Forest at bay.
Daniel Farke named an unchanged side from the one that beat Augsburg 4-0 last weekend, with competitive debuts handed to James Trafford, Tarik Muharemovic and Harry Wilson. Nico Elvedi, whose arrival was confirmed on Wednesday, made the substitute’s bench.
Forest had the first real chance after 17 minutes and it came from a long throw. Igor Jesus met Ola Aina’s launch unmarked and around 10 yards out, with the Brazilian’s header forcing a good save from Trafford to his left.
But Leeds had an early foothold in the game and would have opened the scoring on 25 minutes, but for a raised flag. Brenden Aaronson had acres of space in the middle and went wide to Jayden Bogle whose cross found Wilson, the Welshman finishing well but offside.
The home side grew into the game after that disallowed goal and went on to dominate the first-half’s final exchanges, Nikola Milenkovic striking the post with a header. But Leeds just about kept it goalless going into the break.
Aaronson forced Matz Sels into his first save just after half-time, cutting in from the left and striking a right-footed shot well but straight at the goalkeeper. The American then did brilliantly to dispossess Milenkovic in front of the away end before winning a free-kick that Anton Stach whipped wide.
Forest substitute Chris Wood then dragged a great chance wide and in an attempt to change the momentum of the game, Farke introduced Noah Okafor in place of Wilson. And the Swiss winger almost set up Muharemovic with a lovely dinked cross, but for the outstretched arm of Sels.
Fatigue kicked in on either side with the game edging towards a goalless draw but as the 89th minute approached, Stach produced the goods in familiar fashion. The German whipped a wonderful free-kick in at the near-post of Sels, who got to the ball but couldn’t divert it away from his bottom right corner.
Leeds are due back at the City Ground in just three days when they face Forest in the Carabao Cup second round. Next up in the Premier League is the visit of Brentford to Elland Road next weekend.