Nottingham Forest seized a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Leicester City, with a clinical display and an xG of 3.19 showing their attacking intent. Leicester, despite dominating possession (65%) and creating plenty of progressive runs, couldn’t convert their control into tangible results, finishing with a lower xG of 0.82.
Key Stats Breakdown
Shots on Target: Forest’s accuracy was deadly, converting 3 of their 5 shots on target. Leicester, in contrast, managed just 1 shot on target from their 10 attempts.
Possession and Build-Up: Leicester held onto the ball for 65% of the match, but Forest’s defensive resilience and high-impact counter-attacks proved decisive.
Passing and Movement: Leicester’s pass map highlights a reliance on play through the wings, with key connections between Ndidi, Winks, and Pereira. Forest, however, focused on quick transitions, connecting Anderson and Domínguez to swiftly advance into Leicester’s half.
Match Momentum
Forest’s game plan was clear and effective: soak up pressure and break with purpose. Leicester managed to hold the tempo for stretches, especially in the first half, but Forest’s sharp counters broke their rhythm. The momentum graph indicates key breakthroughs, with Chris Wood’s two strikes (xG 0.17 and 0.40) signaling a shift in the second half.
Shots and Goal Analysis
Leicester’s shot map reveals a lack of high-quality chances, with only one attempt on target from inside the box, converted by Vardy with an xG of 0.39.
Nottingham, meanwhile, maximized their opportunities, positioning their shots strategically with two goals coming from high xG chances in central areas, illustrating their effectiveness in capitalizing on Leicester’s defensive gaps.
Possession Tactics
Leicester’s possession-focused play was evident, but it ultimately lacked penetration.
Forest’s pass map, in contrast, shows a more direct approach, with Anderson, Yates, and Domínguez linking up to feed Hudson-Odoi and Wood in advanced positions. This direct style, combined with swift ball progression, allowed Forest to bypass Leicester’s midfield and get into dangerous positions, translating possession into goals.
Overall, Nottingham Forest’s tactical discipline and ability to maximize their scoring chances proved too much for a Leicester side that controlled the ball but struggled to break down their opponent’s defensive organization.