Chelsea make the short journey across West London to the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday as they aim to strengthen their grip on a UEFA Champions League spot against a Brentford side battling to recapture early-season momentum. While Enzo Maresca’s men arrive in fourth place and on the rise, the hosts are stranded mid-table, still searching for form and consistency as the Premier League season enters its final stretch.
For Thomas Frank’s Brentford, the optimism that surrounded their five-game winning run on the road earlier this year took a blow in midweek with a 2-1 defeat away to Newcastle United. A penalty from Bryan Mbeumo gave the Bees brief hope after Alexander Isak’s opener, but Sandro Tonali’s second-half strike ultimately proved decisive, marking Brentford’s fourth straight away loss to the Magpies.
Now back on home soil, Brentford will be desperate to reverse a worrying trend at the Gtech Community Stadium, where they have not won a Premier League match since beating Newcastle 4-2 in December. That win remains their only home league success in nearly four months, and they have now gone seven home games without victory — a run that has seriously dented their European hopes.
Defensive frailties have been at the heart of their troubles. Brentford remain the only Premier League side yet to keep a clean sheet at home this season. They have not recorded a shutout in front of their fans since May 2024, when they played out a 0-0 draw with Fulham. Their poor form and leaky defence have left them in 11th place, three points shy of the top half, and in need of a near-perfect finish to the season if they hope to push into continental contention.
Adding further historical weight, Brentford have not beaten Chelsea at home in any competition since 1937 — a drought they are desperate to end but will need a significantly improved performance to achieve.
In contrast, Chelsea return to league action with momentum on their side after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. Enzo Fernandez grabbed the only goal — his first Premier League strike at home since December — and VAR played a starring role in disallowing efforts from both Moises Caicedo and Pape Matar Sarr in a tense London derby.
That result marked Chelsea’s fourth consecutive Premier League win over Spurs and lifted them to fourth in the table, placing them in a strong position with just eight games remaining. With UEFA expected to award five Champions League spots to English clubs next season, the Blues will be eyeing the growing cushion between themselves and sixth-placed Newcastle United, rather than worrying about fifth-placed Manchester City, who sit just one point behind.
However, Chelsea’s biggest concern remains their form away from home. While the West Londers have built a fortress at Stamford Bridge, winning five straight league matches, they have collected only two points from their last seven away games, dating back to their thrilling 4-3 win over Spurs in December. Alarmingly, they have lost four straight Premier League games on the road, and a fifth defeat on Sunday would mark their worst away run since 2000.
That said, Chelsea’s recent record at Brentford offers some encouragement. They are unbeaten in seven visits to the Bees’ ground, though the last two meetings at the Gtech Community Stadium have ended in draws. Sunday’s clash presents a perfect opportunity for Maresca’s men to end their away slump and further consolidate their place in the top four. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Thomas Frank will be forced to navigate Sunday’s clash without several key players. Fabio Carvalho has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following a recent shoulder operation, dealing a blow to the Bees’ attacking depth. Meanwhile, Joshua Dasilva and Igor Thiago are still sidelined with knee injuries and will play no part this weekend.
There is slightly more encouraging news regarding Aaron Hickey and Gustavo Nunes, who featured in Brentford B’s match against Fleetwood Town at the end of March. However, neither is expected to be risked just yet, as they continue to build full match fitness. On a more positive note, Rico Henry has made strong progress in his recovery from a hamstring problem and is now in contention to be named in the matchday squad for the first time in several weeks.
Midfielder Mathias Jensen, who missed the last two outings due to illness, is expected to return, though he may start on the bench as he regains full sharpness. There are no suspension issues heading into the fixture, giving Frank the opportunity to name a relatively stable starting XI.
Brentford are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. In goal, Mark Flekken will continue as the first-choice shot-stopper, protected by a back four featuring Sepp van den Berg at right-back, Nathan Collins and Ethan Pinnock in central defence, and Keane Lewis-Potter likely deputising again at left-back.
In midfield, Christian Nørgaard and Vitaly Janelt will anchor the double pivot, providing defensive coverage and distribution. Further forward, Bryan Mbeumo will operate on the right wing, Kevin Schade on the left, and Mikkel Damsgaard is set to play in the number ten role just behind the striker. Leading the line will be Yoane Wissa, who offers energy, movement, and the ability to press from the front as Brentford seek to exploit Chelsea’s recent away struggles.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Enzo Maresca has confirmed fresh injury setbacks for Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia, both of whom have picked up muscle-related issues in training. While Lavia is expected to return before Fofana, the timeline for both remains uncertain and they are ruled out of this fixture.
In addition, Omari Kellyman has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, further reducing Chelsea’s options in attacking midfield. Meanwhile, winger Mykhailo Mudryk is currently serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for a banned substance back in December, and is unavailable for selection pending the outcome of the investigation.
There is more positive news regarding Reece James, who is expected to return to the starting XI after being limited to a brief cameo in the win over Tottenham. Noni Madueke could also be handed a start after making his comeback from injury during Thursday’s London derby, giving Maresca a timely boost in wide areas. Chelsea have no players suspended for this game.
The Blues are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Robert Sanchez will start in goal, behind a defensive line that features Reece James at right-back, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill as the central defensive pairing, and Marc Cucurella at left-back.
In central midfield, Moises Caicedo will be partnered by Enzo Fernandez, who scored the winning goal against Tottenham and will look to dictate the tempo from deep. Further up the pitch, Noni Madueke will provide width on the right, Pedro Neto will operate on the left flank, and Cole Palmer will take up the central playmaking role behind the striker. Leading the line will be Nicolas Jackson, who continues to grow in confidence as Chelsea’s primary centre-forward.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Brentford are winless in their last four home league games against Chelsea (D2 L2), with their last home win over the Blues dating all the way back to October 1938.
Chelsea are aiming for their first league double over Brentford since the 1946/47 season, having won the reverse fixture 2-1 in December.
Brentford are the only team in the Premier League yet to keep a clean sheet at home this season, having gone 16 straight home games without one. They have never reached 17 home league games without a shutout.
Chelsea have lost their last four Premier League away games, and another defeat would see them lose five in a row on the road for the first time since 2000.
In all competitions, Chelsea have only won two of their last 10 away matches (D2 L6), and both of those victories came outside England — in Kazakhstan and Denmark. They are winless in their last eight away games on English soil (D2 L6).
Since arriving from Manchester City, Palmer has slotted seamlessly into Chelsea’s attack, often operating as the central attacking midfielder but just as capable drifting wide to dictate tempo and create overloads. His vision, intelligent movement, and confidence in tight spaces make him a nightmare for defenders — especially against a Brentford side that has failed to keep a clean sheet at home all season.
Palmer’s impact goes beyond just assists or goals — his ability to knit attacks together, link with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in midfield, and find pockets between the lines has been key to Chelsea’s most fluent performances.
Against a defence that has looked vulnerable, especially in the latter stages of games, Palmer’s positioning and decision-making could prove decisive. If Chelsea are to end their away-day woes and claim a crucial three points in their Champions League push, expect Cole Palmer to be at the heart of it.
Brentford’s ongoing defensive woes and poor home form offer Chelsea a clear opportunity to pick up a rare road win. While the Blues have not convinced away from Stamford Bridge lately, their overall momentum and superior quality should see them edge a tightly contested London derby. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.
