Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford: Premier League Match Preview – August 17, 2025The 2025-26 Premier League season kicks off with an intriguing clash at the City Ground, where Nottingham Forest host Brentford on Sunday, August 17, at 2:00 PM BST. Both teams are riding high after impressive campaigns last season, but they face new challenges as they aim to build on their successes. With Nottingham Forest eyeing a deep run in the Europa League and Brentford adapting to life under new management, this opening fixture promises to be a tactical battle. Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting matchup.Match Details
  • Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025
  • Time: 2:00 PM BST (9:00 AM ET)
  • Venue: City Ground, Nottingham, England
  • Broadcast: Live on Sky Sports in the UK; Peacock Premium in the US
  • Referee: To be confirmed
Team OverviewNottingham Forest: The Tricky Trees Aim to SoarNottingham Forest enjoyed a remarkable 2024-25 season, finishing seventh in the Premier League and securing European football for the first time since 1995-96. Their unexpected promotion to the Europa League, following Crystal Palace’s demotion to the Conference League due to ownership disputes, has injected optimism into the club. Under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest have established themselves as a defensively solid unit with a knack for counter-attacking football. However, a lackluster pre-season, where they scored just once in seven friendlies, raises questions about their attacking fluency.Forest’s defensive resilience, led by goalkeeper Matz Sels and center-backs Murillo and Nikola Milenković, was a cornerstone of their success last season. Sels kept 13 clean sheets, while the team’s no-nonsense approach saw them average 32.1 clearances per game. Offensively, Chris Wood’s 20 goals, including a league-leading eight headers, made him the focal point of their attack. The loss of winger Anthony Elanga to Tottenham is a blow, but new signings like Swiss winger Dan Ndoye and potential arrivals such as James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson signal ambition. Morgan Gibbs-White, recently tied to a new contract, remains the creative hub, and his partnership with Wood will be key.Brentford: A New Era Under Keith AndrewsBrentford head into the new season in a transitional phase following the departure of long-time manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham. Rookie head coach Keith Andrews, previously the club’s set-piece coach, takes the reins with a mandate to maintain Brentford’s progressive style. The Bees finished 10th last term, scoring an impressive 66 goals, the fifth-best tally in the league. However, the loss of key players like Bryan Mbeumo (to Manchester United), Christian Nørgaard (to Arsenal), and goalkeeper Mark Flekken (to Bayer Leverkusen) has left gaps in the squad.Brentford have responded with signings like Jordan Henderson from Ajax, Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool, and a club-record deal for Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara. Fabio Carvalho and Mikkel Damsgaard are expected to provide creativity, while Igor Thiago aims to fill the void left by Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, the latter of whom will miss this match due to transfer speculation with Newcastle. Injuries to Vitaly Janelt (heel) and Gustavo Nunes (hamstring), along with doubts over Kelleher and Kevin Schade, add to Andrews’ challenges. Brentford’s pre-season showed promise, with a win over QPR and a lively 2-2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach, but their ability to gel quickly will be tested against Forest’s stout defense.Head-to-Head RecordRecent encounters between these sides have been competitive, with Brentford holding a slight edge. In their last six Premier League meetings:
  • Brentford wins: 3
  • Draws: 2
  • Nottingham Forest wins: 1
  • Latest result: Brentford won 2-0 at the City Ground on May 1, 2025, with goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa.
Brentford have lost just two of their last 10 league visits to the City Ground, winning six, and they remain unbeaten in their opening Premier League match since promotion in 2021, scoring twice in each of those games.Key Battles
  1. Morgan Gibbs-White vs. Jordan Henderson: Gibbs-White’s creativity will be crucial for Forest, but he’ll face a stern test from Henderson, Brentford’s new midfield anchor. The former Liverpool captain’s experience and tenacity could disrupt Forest’s rhythm.
  2. Chris Wood vs. Nathan Collins: Wood’s aerial prowess meets Brentford’s new captain, Nathan Collins, who played every minute last season. Collins will need to neutralize Wood’s threat, especially from set-pieces, where Forest scored a league-high 17 goals last term.
  3. Dan Ndoye vs. Rico Henry: Forest’s new signing Ndoye brings pace and flair to the right flank, but Brentford’s left-back Rico Henry is a formidable defender. This duel could determine whether Forest can stretch Brentford’s backline.
Tactical PreviewNottingham Forest are likely to deploy their preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing defensive solidity and quick transitions. Their low possession share (40.7% last season) and direct style, with Sels launching 74% of his passes, make them a counter-punching threat. Brentford, meanwhile, favor a possession-based approach under Andrews, with increased pressing and combination play seen in pre-season. Their 4-2-3-1 setup will rely on Damsgaard and Carvalho to create chances for Thiago, but the absence of Wissa and Mbeumo could blunt their attack.Set-pieces will be critical, as both teams excelled in this area last season. Forest’s 17 set-piece goals and Brentford’s 13 highlight their proficiency, but Brentford’s league-best record of conceding just two goals from defensive set-pieces could give them an edge.Team News
  • Nottingham Forest: Midfielder Nicolas Dominguez is sidelined with a knee injury. No other major fitness concerns have been reported. New signings Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus could debut, with James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson potentially involved pending transfer completions.
  • Brentford: Yoane Wissa is absent due to transfer talks, while Vitaly Janelt and Gustavo Nunes are ruled out. Caoimhín Kelleher and Kevin Schade face late fitness tests. Jordan Henderson and Antoni Milambo are in line for debuts.
Predicted Lineups
  • Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenković, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
  • Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher (if fit, else Valdimarsson); Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Yarmolyuk, Henderson; Damsgaard, Carvalho, Lewis-Potter; Thiago
PredictionNottingham Forest’s defensive strength and home advantage make them slight favorites, but Brentford’s resilience on the road and set-piece prowess suggest a tight contest. Forest’s pre-season struggles in front of goal and Brentford’s depleted attack point to a low-scoring affair. The absence of Wissa and Mbeumo weakens Brentford’s cutting edge, while Forest’s continuity under Nuno could give them an edge.Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 BrentfordBetting Tips:
  • Double Chance: Nottingham Forest or Draw – Forest’s home form and Brentford’s transition make this a safe bet.
  • Under 2.5 Goals – Both teams’ attacking absences and Forest’s defensive solidity suggest a cagey game.
  • Chris Wood to Score – Wood’s aerial threat and Brentford’s missing key attackers make him a likely candidate.
ConclusionThis opening-day clash is a fascinating test for both sides. Nottingham Forest will look to leverage their defensive organization and home crowd to start their European adventure on a high, while Brentford aim to prove their mettle under new leadership. Expect a hard-fought draw with moments of quality from set-pieces potentially deciding the outcome. Fans can tune in on Sky Sports or Peacock Premium to catch all the action from the City Ground.
 
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