Premier League | Gameweek 28

Mar 8, 2025 at 5.30pm UK

Brentford Community Stadium

Brentford vs Aston Villa

Match preview

Forget the cliché of the game of two halves, Brentford are experiencing the season of two halves; the Bees used to be wonderful at home and awful away, but Thomas Frank's side have since seen their Gtech powers diminish while they excel on the opposition's turf.

Saturday's hosts were 15 minutes away from their first home win in 2025 when Everton came to town, Yoane Wissa putting the Bees ahead on the stroke of half-time, but a Jake O'Brien header in front of the goal prolonged Brentford's painful wait for another win at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The west London outfit have not won a home game since December 7, losing five and drawing two of their last seven on their own turf, although they have incredibly won all four of their away Premier League games since the turn of the year.

However, Brentford's road revival has not been enough to halt their slide into the bottom half of the Premier League table, where a win on Saturday would keep them there, despite their 30 home goals remaining the highest total in the division.

The Bees' impressive goalscoring record at home is due in no small part to a league-best 15.2% shot conversion rate, but Frank's men have yet to keep a clean sheet at the Gtech all season.

For all Brentford's positives and negatives at both ends of the pitch, Aston Villa have scored and conceded in 20 separate Premier League matches this season, more than any other side.

That theme continued in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night, where Unai Emery's men justified their status as favourites with a 3-1 away win over Club Brugge to seal their quarter-final place.

Indeed, the Lions have enjoyed two knockout successes in recent days, including a 4-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Cardiff City after being humiliated by Crystal Palace in the top flight, where just one of their last seven matches has ended in triumph.

While the Lions' patchy form has left them in 10th place, just five points separate them from fourth-placed Manchester City, although a terrible run of away fixtures will do them no favours in their efforts to close the gap.

Indeed, the Palace defeat was their seventh away defeat in their last nine Premier League games, but the Lions beat Brentford 3-1 at home in December and are now seeking their first league double over the Bees since the 1946-47 season.

Recent Performance

Brentford Premier League form:LWLWWD

Aston Villa Premier League form:DLDDWL

Aston Villa form (all competitions):DDWLWW

Team News

In Brentford's last match, a goalless draw against Everton, a total of eight players were absent. However, two of them - Christian Norgaard, who had a concussion, and Mathias Jensen, dealing with a groin issue - are expected to be back in contention this weekend.

Nonetheless, Rico Henry, suffering from a hamstring problem, and Sepp van den Berg, with a knee injury, won't be returning just yet. Moreover, Aaron Hickey (thigh), Igor Thiago (knee), Josh Dasilva (knee), and Gustavo Nunes (back) are still some time away from making their comebacks to the first team.

For the visit of Aston Villa, Frank is likely to make only one change, bringing in Norgaard in place of Yehor Yarmoliuk. Kristoffer Ajer will continue to hold off January signing Michael Kayode for the right - back position.

In contrast, as the spring months draw near, Aston Villa's treatment room has seen a significant reduction in the number of injured players. For the trip to London, Emery should only be without Ross Barkley, who has a knee injury, and potentially Amadou Onana, who has a thigh problem.

It was a welcome sight for Aston Villa fans when Pau Torres, who had been out with a serious foot injury, was named as an unused substitute in the first - leg victory over Club Brugge. However, Emery will probably refrain from immediately starting the Spaniard in the XI.

The Villa coach might still look to make some refreshing changes by including Matty Cash, Ian Maatsen, Jacob Ramsey, and Marco Asensio. Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins will be eager to demonstrate to his former club what they are missing out on.

Possible starting lineup

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Disasi, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins