Both looking to record their second victories of the week, Brentford and Manchester United meet for a Premier League battle at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Bees recorded an efficient 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Thursday night, whilst the Red Devils were busy demolishing Athletic Bilbao in the Basque Country.
Match preview
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Since a 2-1 defeat at the intimidating base of Newcastle United on April 2, Brentford have strung together an impressive four-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League, boosting their chances of finishing inside the top half of the division and potentially earning a European spot.
The Bees made it back-to-back victories in the top flight for the first time since February on Thursday night at the City Ground, where goals either side of the half-time whistle from German Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa secured a two-strike success over Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest.
After downing the Tricky Trees in the East Midlands earlier in the week, Thomas Frank‘s troops are 11th in the Premier League standings with four games remaining of the 2024-25 campaign, just two points behind Fulham in eighth – a position that could be good enough for European football.
The West Londoners will need to take advantage of their remaining home matches if they wish to qualify for the continental stage, with the Bees netting a staggering 34 goals across 17 games at Gtech Community Stadium – only Liverpool (39), Manchester City (39) and Newcastle United (38) have scored more at their respective bases.
Largely responsible for making Brentford one of the highest-scoring teams at home in the Premier League, dangerous duo Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo have stepped up to the attacking plate following the summer departure of Ivan Toney, with the pair bagging a combined 35 top-flight goals this term.
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On course for their worst domestic placement since returning to the top flight following relegation in the 1970s, Manchester United are taking comfort from continental adventures as a woeful 2024-25 campaign reaches its conclusion, with Ruben Amorim‘s side putting one foot in the Europa League final on Thursday night.
San Mames was stunned into silence earlier in the week as the Red Devils ran out 3-0 victors against the 10 men of Athletic Bilbao, meaning that the English giants would need to suffer an immense capitulation during the second leg of the semi-final clash to relinquish a spot in the European final.
Focusing on Premier League matters for the moment, Man United are currently in the midst of a five-game winless run in the top flight, last enjoying domestic success back on March 16, when goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes sealed a comfortable victory at Leicester City.
Whilst the prospect of Europa League glory and consequential Champions League qualification is raising the spirits somewhat on the red side of Manchester, it is impossible to ignore the league standing of United, who are languishing down in 14th, only three points above West Ham United in 17th.
Not too unusual for a side milling about near the bottom of the Premier League, Amorim’s troops rank 14th in terms of away form this season, scoring 18 goals across 17 outings, with only Everton (12), bottom side Southampton (13) and Leicester (16) managing fewer strikes on the road.
Team News
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Brentford have been boosted on the fitness front in recent times, with both Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago returning to full training following lengthy injury lay-offs.
On a less positive note, the Bees are set to be without midfielder Vitaly Janelt for the remainder of the season after he picked up a heel issue.
Joining the German in the hosts’ medical room, former Liverpool man Fabio Carvalho is unlikely to feature again this term owing to a shoulder injury.
Desperate to secure European football via Europa League success, Man United boss Amorim is set to rest a number of key players during the trip to London this weekend.
The Portuguese coach has already confirmed that Noussair Mazraoui will not start at the Gtech Community Stadium, with the defender set to sit out of a Premier League match for the first time this season.
Heavy rotation from the Red Devils will offer up rare starting opportunities for a number of academy youngsters, including Harry Amass and Chido Obi-Martin.
There are a host of first-team regulars who are sidelined for Man United, with Diogo Dalot (calf), Joshua Zirkzee (hamstring) and Lisandro Martinez (knee) all unavailable.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Norgaard, Yarmolyuk, Mbuemo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Fredricson, De Ligt, Shaw; Kamason, Ugarte, Eriksen, Amass; Mainoo, Mount; Obi
We say: Brentford 3-1 Manchester United
After beating top-five hopefuls Nottingham Forest on the road, Brentford should have no issues putting a second-string Man United side to the sword on Sunday.
The Bees face a quick turnaround from the City Ground success, but the same can be said for the Red Devils, who are likely to have more than just one eye on next week’s second leg against Athletic Bilbao.
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