Premier League | Gameweek 33

Apr 19, 2025 at 3pm UK

Brentford Community Stadium

Brentford vs Brighton

Match preview

Sensing an opportunity to put another dent in Arsenal's faltering title challenge, Brentford travelled to the Emirates in between the Gunners' two colossal Champions League quarter-final ties against Real Madrid and, unsurprisingly, came up against a much-changed Mikel Arteta side.

However, the Bees were caught out by a lightning counter-attack just after the hour mark, with makeshift right-back Thomas Partey finding the roof of the net, only for Yoane Wissa to step up and score his 15th Premier League goal of the season.

Wissa's hooked finish was a landmark as Brentford became the first team to have two players score 15 goals in the top flight in 2024-25 - Bryan Mbeumo is one ahead on 16 - but the deadly duo have yet to inspire a single home win in 2025.

In fact, a team that were once the best in the country on their own patch have now failed to win any of their last nine matches at the Gtech Community Stadium in all competitions, a shocking run that has prevented the 11th-placed hosts from making a sustained push for Europe.

To put the Bees' woeful home form into perspective, Frank's men have scored just four goals during their nine-game winless streak at the Gtech, the same number they managed in 90 minutes in their last victory in front of their own fans, a 4-2 win over Newcastle United on 7 December.

Four goals were coincidentally on the menu when Brighton welcomed Leicester to their Amex home last weekend, where Hurzeler's men at least managed to end a three-game losing streak in all competitions, but the draw must have felt as bad as defeat to the Seagulls faithful.

Joao Pedro scored twice from the penalty spot to give Brighton the lead, and a previously shot-shy Leicester responded twice through Stephy Mavididi and Caleb Okoli as Ruud van Nistelrooy's side ended an eight-game Premier League goal drought on the south coast.

And with their dreams of FA Cup glory shattered by a penalty shoot-out defeat to Nottingham Forest, a year that began so promisingly for Brighton is now in danger of ending in misery as the Seagulls sit six points adrift of the top seven.

Repeated failures to keep the back door shut are proving fatal for Hurzeler's men, who have conceded at least twice in each of their last four Premier League games, the longest run of back-to-back clean sheets since March 2022.

On the other hand, Brighton and Brentford have been held to 0-0 draws in their last two top-flight meetings, meaning this game could become only the fifth in Premier League history to end goalless on three successive occasions, and the first since Charlton Athletic against Middlesbrough in 2002.

Recent Performance

Brentford Premier League form:DLWLDD

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:WWDLLD

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):WDLLLD

Team News

There were no new fitness concerns for Brentford at the Emirates, where Gustavo Nunes came on as a substitute after a niggling back problem, but no injured players were expected to return.

Aaron Hickey (thigh) and Igor Thiago (knee) are making progress but are still some way off first-team action, while Fabio Carvalho (shoulder) and Josh Dasilva (knee) remain sidelined.

The majority of the XI that started at the Emirates will be retained, but Michael Kayode, who played a key role in Wissa's goal against Arsenal, is in contention to replace Kristoffer Ajer at right-back.

As for Brighton, the Seagulls' poor form can be partly explained by their fitness crisis, with James Milner (thigh), Joel Veltman (ankle), Tariq Lamptey (ankle), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Adam Webster (thigh), Georginio Rutter (ankle) and Igor Julio (thigh) all still out.

Jason Steele (shoulder) and Kaoru Mitoma (heel) are both back in contention, however, and Hurzeler will be boosted by the return from suspension of Jan Paul van Hecke.

The 24-year-old will no doubt slot straight back into the heart of the defence, pushing Carlos Baleba back into his preferred midfield role after the highly-rated 21-year-old was forced to deputise alongside Lewis Dunk last weekend.

Possible starting lineup

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck