Match Preview: Brentford vs Chelsea – Derby Under the Lights

There will be four fixtures in London this Saturday, one of them being Brentford hosting Chelsea for an evening kick-off at the Gtech Community Stadium (20:00). It’s a rare slot for a Premier League game, arranged this way because Brentford are set to play in the Carabao Cup the following Tuesday, ruling out a Sunday fixture, while the international break prevented it from being held on Friday.

This will be Chelsea’s fourth London derby of the season, having already faced Fulham, West Ham, and Crystal Palace. Enzo Maresca’s side have made a solid start, winning two of their three league matches so far this campaign. Brentford, on the other hand, have struggled for momentum.

Their only home victory came in Gameweek 2 against Aston Villa, and just before the international break, they slipped to defeat against Sunderland. Keith Andrews’ side will be aiming to bounce back in front of their home support.

Recent meetings between the two sides do, however, favour the hosts, with Chelsea winning just once in their last five league encounters. Brentford claimed two of those matches, with the other two ending in draws. However, in their last five home fixtures against Chelsea, Brentford have not secured victory. All three of their Premier League wins against Chelsea have been at Stamford Bridge.

Both sides come into the game with injury concerns. Chelsea could be without a number of key players. Dário Essugo is out until 2026, having undergone surgery after suffering a thigh injury on international duty with Portugal Under-21s. Levi Colwill remains out long-term with an ACL injury, while Liam Delap faces several weeks on the sidelines following a hamstring problem. Cole Palmer is still a doubt with the groin issue that kept him out of the last two fixtures. Benoît Badiashile, Roméo Lavia, and Facundo Buonanotte are also unavailable.

Brentford’s absentees include Vitaly Janelt, who is nursing a foot injury, Gustavo Nunes with a hamstring strain, and Paris Maghoma, who is a doubt after picking up a knock.

Chelsea could go top of the table with a win, while Brentford will want to rediscover their form after an inconsistent run before the international break. With both teams dealing with injuries and an interesting fixture history between them, the outcome could depend on which side manages their setbacks better.