Nottingham Forest vs Brentford Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | Premier League 2025-26

Forest will take on the Bees on matchday 1 in the Premier League.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest will host Brentford in Gameweek 1 of the 2025/26 Premier League this Sunday. The Bees will have to crack the code to unlock one of the top flight’s strongest defences.

Last season, Nottingham were outstanding. They surprised many people from all around the world as they finished seventh in the table with 65 points. A lot of credit goes to players as well as the coaching staff.

After last season’s brilliant performance, they will hope to perform better in the upcoming season for sure. Facing the Bees will not be an easy task, but they will be hopeful to start the new season with a win at home.

Brentford enjoyed a phenomenal 2024-25 season, finishing 10th with 56 points, their second-highest total in their top-flight history. Despite their positive showings in the league, fans are worried about the upcoming season as Thomas Frank has joined Spurs, and Keith Andrews is now the new head coach.

They had a decent pre-season and will be confident of having a good season. Some key players have also left the club during the transfer window. But despite these issues, the Bees are still capable of securing a good result away from home against Forest.

Kick-Off:

• Location: Nottinghamshire, England
• Stadium: City Ground
• Date: Sunday, 17 August
• Kick-Off Time: 06:30 PM IST
• Referee: Peter Bankes
• VAR: In Use

Form

Nottingham Forest (in all competitions): D-D-L-D-L

Brentford (in all competitions): D-W-D-D-L

Players to Watch

Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)

Last season, he was probably the best player for Forest and a key part of Nuno Santos’s tactics. He has always been a striker who thrives against the odds. Wood’s goals and all-around contributions have made him the centrepiece of Forest’s rise.

Wood’s consistency, intelligent positioning and aerial dominance make him a constant threat, while his ability to draw defenders creates space for other players. The New Zealand international will hope to continue his form, and the fans will have a lot of expectations from him.

Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford)

Damsgaard is not just a midfielder; he’s a genuine threat in the attacking third. Known for his ability to find the back of the net, he often positions himself cleverly to score from various situations. His vision on the field allows him to create numerous scoring opportunities, not just for himself but for his teammates as well.

His capacity to unlock defences with incisive passes or well-timed movements into the box showcases his offensive flair. Despite a small frame, the Dane has tenacity in his attacking play, especially on the ball, which is necessary in Brentford’s system.

Match Facts

• Nottingham Forest has never won a home clash against Brentford in the Premier League
• Out of the five wins secured by Nottingham Forest over Brentford, three of them have been with a clean sheet.
• Both teams drew three games in their pre-season

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford: Betting Tips & Odds

• Tip 1 – This fixture to end in a draw – 12/5 by bet365
• Tip 2 – Both teams to score
• Tip 3 – Goals scored over 1.5

Injury and Team News

Nicolas Dominguez is still out due to injury. Taiwo Awoniyi has come back from an abdominal injury. The rest of the players are fit to play their season’s first league game on Saturday.

The Bees go into the match with a fully fit squad and will hope to start their new season with a win under their new head coach.

Head-to-Head

Matches: 41

Nottingham Forest: 14

Draws: 11

Brentford: 16

Predicted Lineups

Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Sels (GK); Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Richards; Yates, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Brentford Predicted Lineup (4-4-2):

Kelleher (GK); Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Henry; Carvalho, Yarmolyuk, Jensen, Potter; Damsgaard, Thiago

Match Prediction

Both teams had a decent pre-season campaign and are now very well prepared for the upcoming season. There are some doubts regarding Brentford as they have brought in a new manager. Both teams will look to start their new season with a win.

However, most probably, this fixture will end in a draw.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brentford

Telecast Details

India: JioHotstar, Star Sports Network

UK: TNT Sports

USA: NBC Sports

Nigeria: SuperSport

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