The Premier League resumes with a clash between two surprise top-ten finishers from last season. Nottingham Forest are set to host Brentford at the City Ground on Sunday. Both sides will begin their campaigns seeking to build on recent success despite summer upheavals.
Forest enter the season boosted by their Europa League promotion. Meanwhile Brentford face a period of transition following key departures and a managerial change. This opening fixture will provide both clubs with the chance to reset ambitions and lay down an early marker.
Nottingham Forest’s preparations were underwhelming. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side failed to win in pre-season and struggled for goals, ending with consecutive goalless draws. Despite losing Anthony Elanga, Forest retained Morgan Gibbs-White and strengthened by adding Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, and Coppa Italia hero Dan Ndoye.
Up front, Chris Wood or Brazilian forward Igor Jesus should spearhead the attack. Nicolas Dominguez is ruled out with a knee problem. However, the squad otherwise has a clean bill of health. Forest are unbeaten in Nuno’s five previous opening-day matches as a Premier League manager. They will look to revive their strong early-season home form from last year.
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Brentford begin a new era under rookie manager Keith Andrews after Thomas Frank’s seven-year reign came to an end. The Bees finished 10th last season with 66 goals. However, they have since lost Bryan Mbeumo and captain Christian Norgaard. Yoane Wissa will also be absent as he pushes for a move.
New signing Jordan Henderson is expected to slot into midfield, while Dango Ouattara has arrived from Bournemouth in a record transfer. Igor Thiago is set for action after a long injury layoff. Meanwhile Fabio Carvalho, who scored in their final friendly, could also feature. Vitaly Janelt is unavailable, with Kevin Schade and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher doubtful.
The betting market leans toward a cautious, low-scoring affair between Nottingham Forest and Brentford, with Under 2.5 goals as the favored outcome. That aligns with recent trends: Forest’s pre-season yielded barely any goals, and outgoing fixtures returned minimal scoring. Similarly, three of their last four meetings have featured no more than two goals. Thus, reinforcing expectations that this match could remain tight and disciplined.
Taiwo Awoniyi is fit once again after featuring in pre-season friendlies. He is easing back into action and represents a smart value pick at +140. Though his on-field minutes were limited last season, he’s now ready to step up as a regular attacking option. Considering Forest’s modest goal return in warmups and Awoniyi’s resurgence in fitness, betting on him to find the net appears both timely and promising. Especially as he vies for regular minutes in the heart of Forest’s attack.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago is also worth considering at +195 for a goal or assist. Returning from a prolonged injury absence, he aims to make a statement in his comeback and is eager to justify his role up front. With Brentford adjusting to departures and managerial shifts, Thiago’s involvement could be pivotal. His willingness to lead the line should boosts his appeal as a potent contributor.
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A balanced and cautious start to the season seems likely. Especially with both sides showing signs of stalemate tendencies ahead of their opening encounter. Forest struggled to find the net over pre-season, while Brentford lost key attackers. This, coupled with the arrival of a new manager, adds uncertainty to their offensive cohesion.
Expect a tightly contested fixture where neither can break through decisively. Thus, resulting in a 1-1 stalemate. With both teams adapting to fresh setups and tempered goal threats, a share of the spoils feels most plausible.
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