Premier League: More Blues on the way for the Bees

Brentford vs Chelsea

West London is the place to be on Saturday night when Premier League: Brentford vs Chelsea kicks off at 8pm UK time at the Gtech Community Stadium. 

While only six miles separate the Blues and the Bees there is a chasm between the two clubs in terms of riches and already 13 places separate them in the early Premier League table. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are second with seven points in the bag while Brentford, now managed by Keith Andrews after the departure of Thomas Frank to Tottenham, are in 15^th place with three points; and the pre-match Brentford vs Chelsea betting odds say the gap is about to widen.  

In their last West London derby, the weekend before the international break, Chelsea beat Fulham thanks to a huge helping hand from VAR, while Brentford lost 2-1 away to newly promoted Sunderland after entering the last ten minutes with a one-goal lead.  

 

Talking Points

Bees hoping for home comfort 

Brentford entered their fifth campaign in the Premier League with a sense of foreboding after a summer of upheaval which saw the key personnel, on and off the pitch, depart for pastures new. Beloved manager Thomas Frank always seemed destined for greater things and he headed to North London for the big job at Spurs, and Frank was quickly followed through the exit door by club captain Christian Norgaard who has joined Arsenal. And Brentford’s two best forwards have gone too, Bryan Mbeumo signing for Manchester United while Yoanne Wissa manufactured a move to Newcastle United at the end of the transfer window. 

An opening fixture list of Nottingham Forest and Sunderland away, and Aston Villa at home gave the Bees, under new captain Nathan Collins, a chance to settle; but they lost both their away games while edging out the Villans 1-0. New signing Dango Outtara scored the winner on 12 minutes and then the Bees withstood a barrage as Villa rained down 17 shots on the Brentford goal with 76 per cent possession.  

The early evidence suggests Andrews’ Bees look set for a relegation scrap this season and they will need to make the Gtech Stadium a difficult place to visit; and that will come under serious scrutiny on Saturday night.         

 

Palmer getting nearer for the Blues 

Chelsea have made a strong start to the 2025/26 campaign and in our SBOTOP review of the first three rounds of the season we ranked them alongside Liverpool, Sunderland and Everton as the teams which can be pleased with their starts. The Blues have strengthened well over the summer, bringing in Brazilian striker Joao Pedro from Brighton and Hove Albion alongside Jamie Gittens from Dortmund and another young Brazilian, Estavao from Palmeiras. Alejandro Garnacho is the latest star to sign, in a £40m switch from Manchester United, and he too could play some part on Saturday. Pedro has been in superb form, scoring Chelsea’s first goals in wins over West Ham United and Fulham and the Blues’ front line was particularly impressive against the Hammers. But the most creative player of the past two campaigns at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer, has been out injured. The latest Brentford vs Chelsea news suggests the attacking midfielder is being assessed day by day and could be back in contention for his first start of the campaign. 

Pedro has been playing behind another summer signing Liam Delap; but the former Ipswich man was injured against Fulham and will be out for some time, so we may see Pedro advance into the number nine position and Palmer playing a free role in behind. The England man’s situation will become clearer by the weekend but Chelsea fans will welcome back the 23-year-old with open arms. On the evidence of the last two campaigns Palmer could be the man to inspire a title challenge from the Blues.         

 

History 

Chelsea have won 11 of their 23 meetings with Brentford, the Bees picking up seven victories and there have been five draws. Last season Maresca’s men won their home fixture against Brentford 2-1 before they played out a goalless draw at the Gtech Community Stadium in April.  

In terms of recent form, if you include Brentford’s Carabao Cup win over Bournemouth, then both teams have won two of the last three games, a stat which will give Bees fans some encouragement.   

 

Betting Tip

With the hosts at 4.50 to win and the draw at 3.75, and the double chance priced at 2.02 this might not be a glum weekend for the Bees, but I’m siding with the club which holds all the cards to beat the side which has lost its best assets.   

   

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