By Ian King
Brentford could have turned a nook, whereas Metropolis preserve slipping simply as they appear to be flying
After one win of their first 5 video games left them seventeenth within the desk, it was beginning to really feel as if Brentford had one asset too many stripped through the summer time. However final weekend towards Manchester United, albeit towards abject opposition, they gave their season a kick-start with their finest efficiency of the marketing campaign up to now.
Manchester Metropolis haven’t fairly constructed up a head of steam but, following up their 5-1 shellacking of Burnley final weekend by conceding a final minute penalty to Monaco on Wednesday evening for a 2-2 draw. They give the impression of being wonderful round 85% of the time, however they do appear to pay for that different 15%.
Brentford’s file towards Manchester Metropolis is… not nice
Apart from the 2022-23 season, when Brentford did the double over them, Manchester Metropolis have solely dropped two factors to the Bees because the latter’s promotion to the Premier League in 2021. Final season they drew 2-2 on this corresponding fixture, however with their head coach and a number of other key gamers having left the membership since then, plenty of water has handed underneath the bridge at Brentford since January.
One explicit identify has the potential to actually upset Brentford’s weekend
It’s apparent, it’s predictable, it’s Erling Haaland. However the numbers are absurd. He’s scored eleven objectives in eight video games for Manchester Metropolis up to now this season. Eight in six, within the League. He’s scored in each of their video games within the Champions League and each Premier League match aside from their 2-0 house defeat to Spurs and their 2-0 win at Huddersfield within the EFL Cup. He’s scored greater than the remainder of the staff put collectively – they’ve scored 20 objectives in all competitions – and their subsequent highest goalscorers are Phil Foden and Personal Targets, who’ve two every.
Igor Thiago was Brentford’s star flip final weekend with two within the first twenty minutes towards Manchester United. He hasn’t fairly received the file that Haaland has total, however he has scored 5 in six video games. Like Metropolis, Brentford’s subsequent highest scorer can be on two objectives, and that’s midfielder Fabio Carvalho. Brentford have scored in all eight – six within the Premier League and two within the EFL Cup – of the video games that they’ve performed up to now this season.
4 lacking every for each Brentford and Metropolis
Manchester Metropolis are lacking 4. Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Omar Marmoush, and Abdukodir Khusanov are all anticipated to be lacking. Brentford are additionally lacking 4. Gustavo Nunes, Paris Maghoma, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Carvalho have all been out for Brentford of late, although Nelson and Carvalho are set to be in rivalry to return this weekend.
Brentford must someway cease Erling Haaland, in the event that they wish to cease Manchester Metropolis
Brentford and Manchester Metropolis have performed 17 video games between them up to now this season and solely as soon as have they failed to attain. What occurs to Brentford on Sunday afternoon will finally come right down to what they will do to quell that Nordic Goalgotha that Metropolis have gotten enjoying up entrance for them. Strap him down, just like the Lilliputians did to Lemuel Gulliver on the primary of his Travels, they usually can take one thing from this. However ought to he break freed from his shackles he may effectively run amok once more.
That mentioned, Metropolis’s defending hasn’t been excellent this season. Donnarumma is an apparent improve in aim, however they’ve solely stored two clear sheets within the League, and whereas they deserved to win in Monaco – they hit the crossbar twice – they have been finally undone by their very own defensive profligacy. However however, I’ll go for a rakish 3-2 Metropolis win.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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