Chelsea face their fourth consecutive London rival to start the 2025–26 Premier League season, with Enzo Maresca’s side this time making the short trip to Brentford on Saturday night.
The Blues, having claimed Club World Cup glory in the summer, have started the season unbeaten and are searching for a third-straight win. After being held by Crystal Palace on the opening weekend, Chelsea have thumped West Ham United 5–1 and eased past Fulham 2–0 despite a poor first-half performance.
Their victories have encouragingly come without talisman Cole Palmer, who’s on the comeback trail from a groin injury.
Brentford will hope to be facing a Blues side that are still without the maverick Englishman, with Keith Andrews’ Bees aiming to bounce back from their defeat at Sunderland before the international break. Many projected the west Londoners to struggle, given who they let go of in the summer, but Andrews has notched his first Premier League win since succeeding Thomas Frank.
The Bees edged past the goal-less Aston Villa on Gameweek 2.
Here’s Sports Illustrated’s guide to the game.
What Time Does Brentford vs. Chelsea Kick-Off?
- Location: London, England
- Stadium: Gtech Community Stadium
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
- Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
- Referee: Stuart Attwell
- VAR: James Bell
Brentford vs. Chelsea Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
- Brentford: 2 wins
- Chelsea: 1 win
- Draws: 2
- Last meeting: Brentford 0–0 Chelsea (April 6, 2025) - Premier League
Current Form (All Competitions)
How to Watch Brentford vs. Chelsea on TV
Brentford Team News
The hosts have been handed an injury boost ahead of Chelsea’s visit, with midfielder Vitaly Janelt available for selection again, having been out since April with a heel injury.
Michael Kayode was taken ill while on international duty for Italy’s Under-21s, but the dynamic full-back is fit for Saturday’s game.
Paris Maghoma and Gustavo Gomes remain sidelined, but Deadline Day arrival Reiss Nelson will play a part, Andrews has confirmed.
Brentford Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea
Brentford predicted lineup vs. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Henderson, Jensen; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
Chelsea Team News
Maresca has said that a decision will be made on Palmer after Friday’s training session, but the playmaker may not start anyway, even if he’s deemed fit. The Chelsea boss has to consider the upcoming Champions League fixture away at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Liam Delap could be out until December with a hamstring injury, and the Blues are also without long-term absentee Levi Colwill.
Andrey Santos, João Pedro and Estêvão all returned late from international duty, but Chelsea’s injuries may force Santos and Pedro into the XI.
Summer addition Dário Essugo has joined the treatment table, with another midfielder, Roméo Lavia, unlikely to be available this weekend.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Brentford
Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Brentford (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Caicedo, Sandro; Neto, Fernández, Gittens; Pedro.
Brentford vs. Chelsea Score Prediction
There’s no doubting Chelsea’s superiority from a talent perspective, but we’re going to play on the international break factor here. Several key members of Maresca’s injury-hit squad racked up plenty of air miles travelling to and from South America, meaning the visitors’ preparation hasn’t been ideal.
Brentford, meanwhile, lost key components over the summer, but the early signs, despite losing twice, suggest they’ll remain a sturdy and competent Premier League outfit capable of springing a surprise or two.
Andrews’ men will produce a spirited display under the lights and earn a point.
Prediction: Brentford 1–1 Chelsea
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Brentford vs. Chelsea: Preview, Predictions and Lineups.