Leeds couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. Anton Stach's sensational 88th-minute free-kick gave us a 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Premier League campaign, with echoes of last season's run of spectacular set-piece strikes. Daniel Farke handed debuts to summer signings James Trafford, Tarik Muharemovi? and Harry Wilson in a tight, attritional contest that saw both sides struggle to break the deadlock in open play. Trafford was outstanding between the posts, denying Igor Jesus with a smart stop from close range before the break and producing a crucial block to deny the Brazilian again at the back post after James McAttee's delivery had cannoned off the woodwork. We also had a Wilson header ruled out for offside from a Jayden Bogle cross, while Stach forced an early save from Matz Sels with a deflected effort inside the opening minutes.

The second half followed a similar pattern, chances at a premium but both sides threatening in flashes. Brenden Aaronson tested Sels from distance shortly after the restart, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was denied by a narrowing angle when played clean through moments later, while Stach curled another free-kick narrowly wide of the far post. Forest's best chances fell to Jesus, who headed over from an Ola Aina cross, and Morgan Gibbs-White, who volleyed off target after the hour, before substitute Chris Wood also dragged an effort wide. At the other end, Sels denied Muharemovi? what would have been a debut goal, diving to gather a glancing header from a Noah Okafor delivery. With ten minutes remaining, Stach finally broke the deadlock, curling a stunning free-kick into the top corner to send the 3,000 travelling fans into raptures. Farke later said it was no surprise, insisting the midfielder "always has those moments" to change a game.

Leeds held firm for the remainder of the contest to secure the perfect start, with Farke praising the defensive resilience and togetherness after a difficult away assignment, and singling out his three debutants for handling the weight of expectation that comes with joining the club. It was a considerably tougher afternoon for new Forest boss Oliver Glasner, whose reign began with defeat despite fitness concerns over Murillo and Chris Wood being cited as mitigating factors. Glasner's arrival at the City Ground carries plenty of weight of its own, with a reported €15.2 million-a-year deal making him the highest-paid manager in Forest's history and the second-highest in the Premier League behind Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, though the defeat leaves him the latest in a long line of Forest managers to lose their opening game in charge.

	Line Up		Nat	Match Events
	1	Trafford, James Goalkeeper			7.6
	2	Bogle, Jayden Defender			6.5
	24	Justin, James Defender			6.5
	5	Muharemović, Tarik Defender			7.6
	6	Rodon, Joe Defender			7.3
	15	Bijol, Jaka Defender			★8.2
	4	Ampadu, Ethan Midfielder			7.6
	18	Stach, Anton Midfielder			7.7
	10	Wilson, Harry Midfielder			6.5
	11	Aaronson, Brenden Midfielder			7.2
	9	Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Forward			6.2
	Subs		Nat	Match Events
	23	Perri, Lucas Goalkeeper		Unused Sub
	65	Lienou, Jayden Defender		Unused Sub
	50	Cresswell, Alfie Midfielder		Unused Sub
	30	Elvedi, Nico Defender		Unused Sub
	8	Longstaff, Sean Midfielder			6.0
	22	Tanaka, Ao Midfielder		Unused Sub
	7	James, Daniel Midfielder		Unused Sub
	19	Okafor, Noah Midfielder			5.8
	14	Nmecha, Lukas Forward		Unused Sub

		Debuts	Nat	DOB	Joined
		Wilson, Harry Midfielder		22/03/1997 (29)	08/07/2026
		Muharemović, Tarik Defender		28/02/2003 (23)	17/07/2026
		Trafford, James Goalkeeper		10/10/2002 (23)	06/08/2026