Brentford vs Chelsea Match Preview
Chelsea will look to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season when they travel to Brentford for the late kick-off at 8 pm on September 13.
The Blues maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a controversial 2-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge, and Enzo Maresca’s side will be looking to carry that momentum beyond the first international break with another three points away to Brentford.
The Bees find themselves in a period of transition under new manager Keith Andrews, and after the deadline day departure of Yoane Wissa to Newcastle, they’ll be hoping to build on an inconsistent start that has seen their solitary victory sandwiched between two damaging defeats on the road.
Chelsea’s Controversial Momentum
Although they are favourites when they return to action after the international break, Chelsea travel to Brentford knowing they have work to do. The free bets available all involve victory for Maresca’s side, but the London derby win against Fulham was marked by contentious moments.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half, only to see Josh King’s goal controversially ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Chelsea capitalised on their fortune when João Pedro gave them the lead in the ninth minute of first-half stoppage time, after lengthy VAR and injury delays had extended the half significantly.
The second half brought further controversy when Chelsea were awarded a penalty for handball following an extended VAR review. Enzo Fernández converted from the spot to seal what would prove to be a comfortable victory, though one that left questions, particularly from Fulham boss Marco Silva, about the officiating standards this season.
Despite the circumstances, the result extended Chelsea’s remarkable home form. The Blues are now unbeaten in 12 league games at Stamford Bridge in 2025, winning nine. Maresca will be hoping that purple patch translates to the road ahead of the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium, where they are carry 4/5 odds.
Brentford in Transition
Keith Andrews has inherited a side in flux. Thomas Frank’s departure to manage Tottenham Hotspur has left the Bees searching for a new identity, and the loss of Yoane Wissa on deadline day has compounded their problems in the final third.
Brentford signed Wissa for £8.5 million in the summer of 2021, and he evolved from a versatile squad player into their first-choice centre-forward during Ivan Toney’s suspension in 2023.
Reiss Nelson’s last-minute arrival provides attacking reinforcement. He joins former Liverpool players Caoimhin Kelleher and Jordan Henderson as the marquee summer signings.
The Bees must improve from their last outing before the international break, taking the lead away at Sunderland before throwing it away to lose 2-1 at the Stadium Of Light.
Andrews will know that home form is vital for Brentford this season, particularly given the stark contrast with their struggles on the road.
Frank’s tenure at Brentford was built on the foundation of strong home performances and their ability to upset bigger sides. Andrews will need to replicate that formula if the Bees are to avoid a potential massacre at the hands of an increasingly confident Chelsea side.
Key Players to Watch
After another summer of squad upheaval that saw Chelsea form a ‘Bomb Squad’ of surplus players for the second consecutive year, Maresca finally appears to have found his settled side.
The likes of Christopher Nkunku and João Félix have been moved on permanently, while players such as David Datro Fofana and Axel Disasi saw potential moves collapse at the time of writing, leaving them in limbo. This clarity of selection has been crucial to Chelsea’s early-season form, with Maresca no longer juggling an unwieldy squad of over 40 players.
Chelsea’s attacking options look formidable, even with Liam Delap’s injury. Joao Pedro has been in fine form, scoring against Fulham and consistently showing intelligent movement and finishing ability.
Young winger Estevao also impressed with his dribbling and chance creation, though his decision-making remains a work in progress.
The Blues’ depth allows Maresca to rotate his squad, keeping key players fresh ahead their first Champions League game away to Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich later this month.
For Brentford, Brazilian striker Igor Thiago has emerged as their primary attacking threat with three goals in two games.
The powerhouse forward finally looks settled in English football, and with Wissa’s departure, he will need to shoulder the goalscoring burden almost single-handedly.
If Brentford are to extract anything from this fixture, Thiago will likely be the focal point of their attacking play.
The Verdict
This could prove to be a long season for Brentford. Even during their relatively successful 2023-24 campaign, they finished just two places and 13 points above the relegation zone, a precarious position that followed their ninth-place finish the previous year.
Across their four Premier League seasons, the Bees have yo-yoed between 13th, ninth, 16th, and 10th – hardly the consistency of an established top-flight club.
The pattern suggests vulnerability, particularly when key players depart. History is littered with clubs that seemed certain to establish themselves as Premier League mainstays, only to suffer a single underperforming season that leads to relegation.
If Thiago fails to find the net, it’s difficult to identify where Brentford’s goals will come from, and the Brazilian is likely to find himself isolated against a Chelsea defence that has grown in confidence.
Expect Chelsea to take control if they score early, though Maresca will likely rotate his squad sufficiently to ensure his key players remain fresh for the European challenges ahead. Early Chelsea goals could see the Bees isolated and struggling to respond.
Prediction: Brentford 0-2 Chelsea
