The Bees are flying high after an impressive 3-0 win away to Fulham last weekend after their first two games ending in a draw. Meanwhile, Palace are in full throttle after one win and one loss.
With confidence high after their derby victory, Brentford will look to keep momentum going and pick up another three points.The Bees desperately need a win to kick start their season in front of their home supporters.
The much awaited match will take place on Saturday, August 26th, 2023, at Gtech Community Stadium, in Brentford, West London.
Brentford turned in an exceptional performance last Saturday, comfortably dispatching West London rivals Fulham by a score of 3-0. The Bees were clearly the better side for nearly the full 90 minutes and could have won by an even more lopsided scoreline.
Forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa were constant thorns in Fulham's side all match long. Their blistering pace and technical quality on the ball gave the Fulham defense fits. Mbeumo and Wissa each found the back of the net to reward manager Thomas Frank's selection and gameplan.
With banned striker Ivan Toney missing until January, Frank needed others to step up in attack. Mbeumo and Wissa have answered that call emphatically. Both now have three goals apiece in the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign. Brentford's attack appears just as dangerous even without their leading scorer from last season.
In addition to the impressive offense, Brentford's backline and defending also deserve plaudits. They kept Fulham's chances to a minimum for long stretches. Once reduced to 10 men after a controversial red card, Fulham struggled to mount any real threat. Brentford comfortably closed out the match.
The team shape and organization Frank drilled into them kept the Bees in control. He deserves immense credit for having Brentford ready to play at a high level right from the season's outset. This month's results show Brentford's first Premier League season was no fluke.
Next up for Brentford is a tricky road match against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night. The Eagles have stumbled out of the gates, losing their first two matches without scoring. They will be desperate to get points on the board in front of their home supporters.
Brentford must continue playing intelligent, cohesive football to leave Selhurst Park with a positive result. Remaining disciplined at the back before utilizing the counterattack will be crucial once again.
In Mbeumo and Wissa, the Bees have the pace up front to punish Palace on the break. New signing Keane Lewis-Potter provides another excellent threat going forward. Brentford are capable of pulling off the upset if they match Palace's intensity from the opening whistle.
These next few games provide a great chance for Brentford to build some momentum in the table. Stringing together wins over beatable opponents early on could set them up for a memorable season. So far, Frank's side appears up to the task.
Crystal Palace put in a spirited performance on Friday night but ultimately fell 1-0 at home to Arsenal. The Eagles competed well for most of the match before a controversial penalty allowed Arsenal to take the lead.
Palace started brightly and caused some problems for Arsenal early on. Attacking talents like Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard showed flashes of danger. The home side just lacked a true cutting edge in the final third.
As the match wore on, Arsenal controlled possession and created the better chances. But Palace's defense, led by Joachim Andersen, held firm to keep things scoreless.
The key moment came when Eddie Nketiah was played through and fouled for a penalty. Replays showed Jefferson Lerma may have been illegally blocked as he tried to cover, but VAR allowed the decision to stand.
Down a goal, Palace battled admirably despite Arsenal going down to 10 men after a questionable red card. The Eagles just lacked a true goal threat to find an equalizer.
Manager Patrick Vieira was proud of his side's effort and commitment. But he acknowledged they must add attacking reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Palace supporters created a lively atmosphere at Selhurst Park for the season opener. The team fed off that energy and gave everything, keeping the match competitive.
While disappointing to lose, Palace showed they won't be pushovers this season. Building on this resolute foundation, some new firepower could make them dangerous.
Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup: Sam Johnstone, Tyrick Mitchell, Marc Guéhi, Joachim Andersen, Joel Ward, Jeffrey Schlupp, Cheick Doucouré, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Ayew, Odsonne Edouard, Michael Olise
Brentford Predicted Lineup: Mark Flekken, Rico Henry, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Aaron Hickey, Vitaly Janelt, Christian Nörgaard, Mathias Jensen, Yoane Wissa, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo
Toney returns from suspension and his battle with Palace defender Andersen could be telling. His physicality and finishing ability makes Toney a handful.
Creative midfielder Eze takes on Brentford's rugged, defensive-minded Norgaard in an intriguing matchup. Norgaard must limit Eze's time on the ball.
Edouard's pace and movement presents problems for experienced Brentford center-back Mee. Keeping Palace's frontman quiet won't be easy.