Match details
What: Brentford vs Chelsea, Premier League
Where: Gtech Community Stadium
When: 8pm, Friday September 18
Watch: Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League
Key stats
- Brentford lost just three Premier League home games last season.
- Keane Lewis-Potter is averaging two fouls per game in the league this term.
- Kevin Schade has scored three goals in four top-flight matches this campaign.
Brentford to extend unbeaten record
Brentford were my team to keep an eye on at the start of the season – I tipped them on the Premier League season handicap – and I am more encouraged than concerned by the start they have made.
A run of three straight draws against Leeds United, Sunderland and Bournemouth has stalled their momentum but they remain unbeaten in all competitions and this will be only their third match of the season at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Their first home game was on the opening weekend, when they thumped Tottenham Hotspur 3-0, and they drew 1-1 at home to Sunderland this month.
Because of their affinity for a draw and the fact Chelsea’s clinical front three could make life tough for them, I’m not diving into a Brentford win at 7/4 but I think they can at least avoid defeat in what has the makings of an exciting end-to-end encounter.
Therefore, my first tip for the game is Brentford or draw double chance and over 2.5 goals at odds of around 6/4. (You may need to use the bet-builder function to put together this bet.)
It is a bet that would have landed in four of Brentford’s six games in all competitions this season and, with Chelsea in town, goals are surely on the cards.
The Blues are perhaps the most top-heavy team in the division. Only Brighton (13) have netted more than their 10 league goals, but only three clubs have conceded more than the nine they have let in.
Their Premier League matches are consequently averaging 4.75 goals per game, while just last week they beat Leeds 6-3 in a thrilling EFL Cup tie at Stamford Bridge.
An error from Jorrel Hato in the 2-2 draw with Hull City on Saturday epitomised their fragility at the back but there is perhaps no better forward line on paper than Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers, so I do not see their trend of high-scoring games ending any time soon.
They should be competitive away to Brentford but they were disappointing in that draw with Hull and I think the Bees can avoid defeat.
Brentford lost just three times at home in the Premier League last season, taking points off Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United at the Gtech.
Chelsea are far from the finished article under Xabi Alonso and there will be vulnerabilities for Brentford to exploit in front of a roaring home crowd, so I fancy them to pick up at least a point in a game featuring three goals or more.
Tip: Brentford or draw double chance & over 2.5 goals @ 6/4
Lewis-Potter runs risk of a booking
These London rivals have each picked up nine yellow cards in this season’s Premier League, with only five sides receiving more, so bets on cards and fouls could be a smart way of approaching this match.
But I recommend looking beyond the usual candidates in those markets and I like Keane Lewis-Potter to commit two or more fouls at 6/4.
The fact Lewis-Potter was shoehorned into the team who won 2-1 away to Reading in the EFL Cup on Tuesday suggests that manager Keith Andrews is a big admirer of the defender.
On that occasion he played on the flank while new signing El Hadji Malick Diouf played at left-back but I would not be surprised to see Lewis-Potter return to the left side of defence for this one.
And if that is the case, he will likely have to deal with the threat of Chelsea danger man Cole Palmer, who has been playing on the right of their attack.
Palmer likes to drift inside but can also be a danger down the channels and is averaging 1.5 dribbles and 1.3 fouls won per game in this term’s Premier League.
In one-on-one situations, Lewis-Potter may be drawn into a rash challenge or two and it is easy to tell he began his career as a forward given that he is averaging two fouls per game but just 1.3 tackles per game in the Premier League this term.
Given his team-mates such as Mamadou Sangare, Igor Thiago and Vitaly Janelt are odds-on shots to commit two or more fouls, I think the 6/4 on offer for a couple of Lewis-Potter fouls represents value.
Tip: Keane Lewis-Potter to commit 2+ fouls @ 6/4
Vitaly important to match multiple
This could be a pretty eventful match, so there are four legs to my match bet builder, which has combined odds of just under 7/1.
Start the multiple with both teams to score, given that has been a winner in seven of the eight Premier League games involving the sides this season.
Next, add in 10+ match corners. Brentford rank third (17) and Chelsea fifth (15) for average shots per game in the league this season and a high shot volume often results in a high corner count.
The Bees like to play with width, averaging 21 crosses per game, and these sides have taken a combined 40 corners between them in the Premier League this season.
I also like the look of Vitaly Janelt to commit two or more fouls. The industrious Brentford midfielder was the first Premier League player this season to reach three cards, doing so in as many games, and is averaging 2.3 fouls per game in the league.
Complete the bet builder with a goal or assist for Brentford’s in-form forward Kevin Schade. I think there will be goals in this one and Schade has scored three in four games in the top flight this season after managing eight goals and three assists in the 2025-26 campaign.
Tip: Bet builder – both teams to score, 10+ match corners, Vitaly Janelt to commit 2+ fouls & Kevin Schade to score or assist @ 6.88/1
Brentford vs Chelsea odds
- Brentford @ 7/4
- Draw @ 3/1
- Chelsea @ 13/10
Odds courtesy of Betfred. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
