The games continue to come thick and fast across Europe, and the 2024/25 Premier League season continues this week with Gameweek 33. The latest round of fixtures kicks off on Saturday, with the action on the day starting with four simultaneous matches, including Brentford vs Brighton & Hove Albion at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford looked destined for mid-table finish from the word go in the 2024/25 Premier League season. The West London club could not buy an away win in the early days of the ongoing top-flight campaign while barely dropping points at home.
However, that has reversed in the second half of this term, with the Bees racking up more points on their travels than at the Gtech Community Stadium. The primary concern for Thomas Frank’s men is their inability to embark on winning runs, which has kept them from challenging for European qualification.
On the other hand, Brighton & Hove Albion have a more promising chance to secure European qualification. However, like the home side, the Seagulls have blown hot and cold throughout the 2024/25 season, failing to win their last four Premier League games. Fabian Hurzeler’s men risk losing any chance of qualifying for a European competition if this dreadful run continues.
The reverse fixture ended in a goalless stalemate, with Brighton & Hove Albion failing to capitalise on their dominance for most of the game. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Thomas Frank has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Brentford manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Aaron Hickey is closing in on returning from his long-term absence. However, with the Scot’s fitness still lacking, Saturday’s game has come too soon for him. In addition, Igor Thiago (knee), Fabio Carvalho (shoulder), and Joshua Dasilva (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Mark Flekken will take his spot between the sticks, with Brentford lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The backline should feature Michael Kayode, Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, and Keane Lewis-Potter.
As for the midfield unit, Vitaly Janelt and Christian Norgaard should pair up in the double pivot. Mikkel Damsgaard will reprise the no. 10 role, with Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade being the two wide attackers. Finally, Yoane Wissa will lead the line for Brentford against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Unlike his counterpart in the Brentford dugout, Fabian Hurzeler has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. The Brighton & Hove Albion manager will be without as many as eight first-team players.
Kaoru Mitoma is fit and available after recovering from a heel injury, while Jan Paul van Hecke has served a suspension. However, Jason Steele (shoulder), Joel Veltman (hamstring), Tariq Lamptey (ankle), Adam Webster (thigh), Ferdi Kadioglu (ankle), Igor Julio (thigh), James Milner (hamstring), and Georginio Rutter (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Bart Verbruggen is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Brighton & Hove Albion lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brentford on Saturday. The backline should feature Jack Hinshelwood, Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Pervis Estupinan.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Joao Pedro will reprise the no. 10 role, with Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma being the two wide attackers. Finally, Danny Welbeck will spearhead the Brighton attack against Brentford on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
While Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro, and Kaoru Mitoma were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Yoane Wissa as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Wissa’s goal at the Emirates last weekend was his 15th Premier League strike of the 2024/25 season, with Brentford becoming the first side to have two players score 15 or more goals this term. Teammate Bryan Mbeumo has found the back of the net 16. The DR Congo international will aim to continue his excellent form, with Thomas Frank viewing the striker as his go-to player.
Both teams have struggled to build momentum in the run-in, and Brentford’s form at home has spiralled out of control. The Bees would have been the favourites to clinch the three points if this fixture was in the first half of the 2024/25 season.
However, with Thomas Frank’s men blowing hot and cold, they might struggle to create many openings in the final third. In addition, Brentford’s defensive frailties will hand an injury-hit Brighton & Hove Albion several opportunities to test Mark Flekken. Ultimately, there might not be much to separate the two sides, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw for Saturday’s game.
