Chelsea look to bounce back from a stuttering run of form when they travel across west London to face an unbeaten Brentford side at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday night.
Match Preview
Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League table with seven points from four matches, but their start to life under Xabi Alonso has been anything but steady of late.
The Blues followed up a 2-1 defeat to champions Arsenal with a 2-2 draw against newly promoted Hull City at Stamford Bridge, a result that leaves Chelsea with just one win from their last six Premier League away fixtures.
It has nonetheless been an entertaining campaign in west London, with Chelsea the second-highest scorers in the division on 10 goals, though their tally of nine conceded is the joint-highest among the current top nine.
There was better news in midweek, at least, as Chelsea thrashed Leeds United 6-3 in the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge to book their place in the fourth round, continuing an eventful start to the season that has repeatedly delivered goals at both ends.
Brentford, by contrast, have built their opening weeks on considerably more solid foundations. Keith Andrews’ side are unbeaten in six matches across all competitions, a run built on an opening-day statement of intent, a 3-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, followed by draws against Leeds United, Sunderland and Bournemouth, and a 2-1 EFL Cup win over Reading in midweek.
The Bees head into Friday on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run domestically and sit seventh in the table, just a point behind their west London rivals.
History offers little encouragement for the hosts, at least on paper. Brentford remain winless in all five of their previous Premier League meetings with Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium, though the last four have all finished level, and 10 of the Bees’ last 14 league matches overall have ended in draws.
Chelsea won 2-0 when the sides met in the Premier League last season, but needed a stoppage-time leveller to salvage a 2-2 draw on their previous visit to Brentford’s ground the season before that. With Chelsea’s defensive frailties on the road and Brentford’s reputation for making life difficult for supposedly stronger opposition, the makings of another tight, high-scoring west London derby are all in place.
Team News
Brentford will be without a lengthy list of first-team players for the visit of Chelsea.
Joshua Dasilva (thigh), Antoni Milambo (knee), Nathan Collins (calf), Sepp van den Berg (groin) and Kafe Furo are all sidelined, while Mathias Jensen is a doubt because of a fitness issue.
Despite the absences, Andrews will take confidence from the form of Kevin Schade, who has scored three goals in five appearances so far this season and continues to be Brentford’s most dangerous outlet from the left, while Igor Thiago will look to add to his solitary goal of the campaign leading the line.
Chelsea’s team news is similarly complicated. Joao Pedro and Reece James both missed training in the build-up to the game, with Pedro having withdrawn from the Brazil squad through injury, though Alonso has not ruled him out of contention entirely.
Moises Caicedo (calf), Marco Palestra (fitness), Emmanuel Emegha (fitness) and Jordan Henderson (wrist) are all touch-and-go but have a chance of being involved. Jorrel Hato’s underwhelming showing against Hull could open the door for Pep Chavarria to start at left wing-back, while Maxence Lacroix is expected to return to the back line.
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, meanwhile, remain guaranteed starters given the excellent form both have shown in the final third this season.
Matchday! ⚫️⏳#CFC | #BRECHE pic.twitter.com/ucPztjDZsV
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 18, 2026
Brentford vs Chelsea Predicted XI
Brentford Predicted XI:
Kelleher; Kayode, Schuster, Ajer, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Sangaré; Schade, Yarmolyuk, Anthony; Thiago
Chelsea Predicted XI:
Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Lavia, James, Chavarria; Palmer, João Pedro, Rogers
Score Prediction
Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
