Forest host the Foxes at the City Ground on 11th May 2025 in an exciting East Midlands derby. Both clubs are limping toward the finish line, but Forest will hope to summon derby-day passion to outclass a Leicester side struggling on the road. Kick Off Nigeria editor Ayomide Oguntimehin previews the fiery Premier League encounter.
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City Match Preview
Nottingham Forest are determined to bounce back from recent disappointing results. Their 1–1 draw away at Crystal Palace in their last match was a much-needed point, but their home form has been worrying. Forest have struggled at the City Ground recently, losing three of their last five matches, though they have shown they can rise to the occasion with victories over top clubs like Manchester United and Manchester City earlier this season. A win here could push them back to the top four.
Leicester City, meanwhile, come into this match on the back of a solid 2–0 win over Southampton. However, their away form has been far from encouraging, with the Foxes failing to win in their last five away fixtures and scoring just one goal in that period. Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s side will need to improve drastically on the road if they want to leave Nottingham with any points, but they have had success in this fixture in the past and will hope their history against Forest will motivate them.
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City Head-to-Head (Last Five Games)
- 25.10.2024 (PL): Leicester 1–3 Nottingham Forest
- 14.01.2023 (PL): Nottingham Forest 2–0 Leicester
- 03.10.2022 (PL): Leicester 4–0 Nottingham Forest
- 06.02.2022 (FAC): Nottingham Forest 4–1 Leicester
- 19.02.2014 (CHA): Nottingham Forest 2–2 Leicester
Forest have had the upper hand in recent encounters, winning three of the last four meetings between these sides.
Recent Form: Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have struggled to find consistency in recent weeks. Their 1–1 draw at Crystal Palace last time out was a solid point on the road, but before that, they suffered back-to-back defeats. They lost 0–2 at home to Brentford, followed by a disappointing 0–2 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup. However, the Tricky Trees did manage to pull off a surprising 2–1 victory over Tottenham and will be hoping to channel that same energy into their upcoming match.
Recent Form: Leicester City
Leicester City come into this game with a much-needed 2–0 win over Southampton, which halted a winless run in the Premier League. However, the Foxes have been far from convincing away from home. Their 0–1 loss to Liverpool was followed by a 2–2 draw with Brighton, and before that, Leicester lost 3–0 to Newcastle. Their recent away form is concerning, with just one goal scored in their last five away matches. While their home form has been solid, Leicester will need to find a way to break their away-day slump if they hope to compete in this derby.
Player to Watch: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
Wilfred Ndidi will be crucial for Leicester in this match. The Nigeria International will need to be at his best if Leicester are to handle Forest’s midfield pressure and create opportunities going forward.
Best Betting Odds
- Home to Win (Nottingham Forest): 1.38 on 1xBet
