Chelsea had the better of the few opportunities created in a largely uninspiring first half at Brentford on Friday night.
Xabi Alonso’s side were looking to make amends after a disappointing draw at home to Hull last week and enjoyed the greater share of the possession at the Gtech Community Stadium without offering much of a threat going forward.
Pedro Neto had a ninth minute shot palmed away by home goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and Morgan Rogers saw a goal bound shot blocked by Bees defender Jannik Schuster five minutes before the break.
In between, the game was lacking in quality with Brentford seeking their first league win since the opening day.
It took Keith Andrews’ side almost 37 minutes to register a shot on target and, when they did, Yehor Yarmoliuk’s effort resulted in a routine save for Emiliano Martinez.
Alonso would have been pleased with his team’s defensive solidity after conceding nine goals in their opening four league games.
BRENTFORD TEAM NEWS
Brentford were without Joshua Dasilva, Antoni Milambo, Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, Mathias Jensen and Kafe Furo.
Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Schuster, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Anthony, Schade; Thiago
Brentford Substitutes: Balcombe, Hickey, Henry, Ouattara, Wilson, Carvalho, Sangare, Diouf, Fredrick
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Joao Pedro and Reece James missed out due to injury. Maxence Lacroix, Valentin Barco and Danny Welbeck were drafted in while Jordan Henderson made his first Chelsea start against his previous club.
Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia dropped to the bench.
Chelsea: Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Chavarria, Henderson, Barco; Palmer, Rogers, Welbeck
Chelsea Substitutes: Penders, Acheampong, Gusto, Hato, Lavia, Nicoll-Jazuli, Gittens, Estevao, Quenda
Brentford vs Chelsea: Stats, Premier League form
- These sides are the only teams to have opened the scoring in each of their four Premier League games so far this season. Overall this season, the side that has scored first has gone on to win 58.3% of games (21/36), which is the lowest proportion in a Premier League season
- Only Leeds United (2.47) have a higher set-piece expected goals total (excluding penalties) than Brentford in the Premier League this season (2.34), while Chelsea have the seventh-highest total against (1.57)
- Only three players have applied more high-intensity pressures in their own half in the Premier League so far this season than Brentford’s Mamadou Sangare (127), who is joint-fourth for fouls conceded (8) and joint-fifth for tackles made (13).
- Brentford are winless in their five Premier League home games against Chelsea, with each of the last four finishing level (L1)
- While 10 of Brentford’s last 14 Premier League games have been draws (W2 L2), the Bees are unbeaten in their last six top-flight matches (W1 D5), only enjoying longer runs in the competition in March 2023 (12 games) and September 2023 (7)
- Having lost three of their first five Premier League games against Brentford (W1 D1), Chelsea are now unbeaten in their last five (W2 D3)
- Chelsea have won one of their last six Premier League away games (D1 L4). In 2026, only Crystal Palace (23) have conceded more goals on the road among sides currently in the division than the Blues (21)
- Their Premier League games this season have featured more goals than any other side (19 – 10 for, 9 against); the Blues have both scored and conceded at least 10 goals in their opening five games of a Premier League season once before, in 2019/20 (F11 A11)
- Joao Pedro has more goal involvements than any other player in the Premier League this season (6 – 3 goals, 3 assists). Since the start of last season, the forward has both scored and assisted in more different games than any other player in the competition (6), including in three of his four appearances this campaign
- Danny Welbeck has scored in each of his last three Premier League games against Brentford and has never netted in four consecutive matches against a specific opposition team in the competition
Recent Results : Brentford
Recent Results : Chelsea
Where to watch Brentford v Chelsea: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £27.99 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Here’s the full list of Premier League international broadcasters.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
