Nottingham Forest vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview – prediction, team news, lineups | Pre-Season Friendly
These clubs are going to face each other for the first time!
Nottingham Forest will go head-to-head against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in a club friendly contest ahead of the 2026 -27 campaign. The City Ground is going to witness this clash between these teams.
The Tricky Trees are now on a three-match losing streak in their current pre-season run. They are coming in after facing a 0-1 defeat at the hands of FC Barcelona. The Oliver Glasner-led side will be eager to jump back to winning ways. With just two friendly outings left, their preparations for the Premier League 2026-27 must get intense.
They have only signed two players in the ongoing transfer window. Nottingham Forest need more calm and composed players, as they still have some time left to sign some players.
The Werkself are on an unbeaten pre-season run. They have secured wins in all of their last five matches and will be looking to add another to their tally. Despite being away from home, they are going to be high on confidence.
Bayer Leverkusen are coming in after a 2-1 win against Sevilla FC. They were trailing by a goal in the first half, but Patrik Schick stepped up his game to score a brace and helped his side to a win.
Kick-off:
- Location: Nottingham, England
- Venue: The City Ground
- Date: Thursday, August 13
- Kick-off Time: 12:15 AM IST (Wednesday, August 12; 06:45 PM GMT/ 02:15 PM ET/ 11:15 AM PT)
- Referee: TBA
- VAR: Not in use
Form:
Nottingham: D-W-L-L-L
Leverkusen: W-W-W-W-W
Players to Watch
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
Morgan Gibbs-White was one of the standout performers for Nottingham Forest during the 2025-26 season. He scored 15 goals and had 4 assists to his name in the Premier League. His performances in the final third were brilliant despite being a midfielder. He will most likely be included in the starting XI.
Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen)
Patrik Schick is coming in after scoring a sensational second-half brace for Bayer Leverkusen in their previous outing. It was a top performance by the 30-year-old, who led his side to an important win. He will once again be deployed in the final third and is going to be a constant threat to the opponent’s defence.
Match Facts
- Nottingham Forest have failed to secure a clean sheet in their last three games.
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen have three clean sheets to their name in their last five attempts.
- This will be the first-ever clash between these clubs.
Betting Tips & Odds
- Bayer Leverkusen to win @156/100 10bet
- Patrik Schick to score @11/8 bet365
- Goals under 3.5 @8/15 Boyle Sports
Injury and Team News
All of the squad members for Nottingham Forest are fit and ready to be in action.
Kennet Eichhorn, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Nathan Tella and Montrell Culbreath will be unavailable for Bayer Leverkusen due to their injuries. World Cup participant England’s Jarell Quansah could also return back to action.
Head-to-head
Matches played: 0
Nottingham (wins): 0
Leverkusen (wins): 0
Draws: 0
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Sels (GK); Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, N Williams; Sangare, McAtee; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Sa; Wood
Bayer Leverkusen predicted XI (4-3-1-2)
Flekken (GK); Arthur, Bade, Tapsoba, Gutierrez; Andrich, Palacios, A Garcia; Tillman; Schick, Kofane
Match Prediction
With many of their top players likely to start, the Tricky Trees will be bringing a tough fight. The Werkself have performed well and will be eager to continue with their positive momentum.
Bayer Leverkusen are likely to secure a win in this upcoming pre-season game against Nottingham Forest.
Prediction: Nottingham 1-2 Leverkusen
Telecast Details
Fans will be able to view the live streaming of this pre-season fixture via Forest TV.
When and where is Nottingham Forest vs Bayer Leverkusen pre-season friendly?
The City Ground is going to witness this clash on August 12.
Where and how to watch Nottingham Forest vs Bayer Leverkusen pre-season friendly live?
Forest TV can be used to view this contest live.
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Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.