Brentford and Manchester United will aim to continue their unbeaten runs when they face off at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday.
Gameweek 35 of the 2024/25 Premier League season continues on Sunday with four matches. The action on the day starts with three simultaneous games, including Brentford vs Manchester United at the Gtech Community Stadium. The two teams come into this tie with vastly different objectives in the final month of the 2024/25 season.
Brentford can end the 2024/25 season with UEFA Europa League qualification, although the possibility is remote. On the other hand, Manchester United will aim to win that competition after inching close to a spot in the final after beating Athletic Club 3-0 in the semi-final first leg earlier this week.
The Red Devils have endured a disastrous 2024/25 Premier League campaign, and they will not secure a top-half finish this term. However, the season can still be memorable for Manchester United if they win the UEFA Europa League.
On the other hand, the Bees have been a middling team throughout the 2024/25 season. Brentford began this term with an impeccable home record, barely dropping points at the Gtech Community Stadium. That has turned around in the second half of the ongoing campaign, with the West London club travelling better in the last few months.
The reverse fixture saw Manchester United come from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring a rare goal to seal the three points. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Brentford
Thomas Frank has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Brentford manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players vs Manchester United on Sunday.
Vitaly Janelt is the most notable absentee due to a heel injury. The German midfielder accompanies Aaron Hickey (match fitness), Igor Thiago (knee), Fabio Carvalho (shoulder), and Joshua Dasilva (knee) on the sidelines.
Mark Flekken will take his spot between the sticks, with Brentford lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The backline should feature Michael Kayode, Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, and Rico Henry.
As for the midfield unit, Yehor Yarmolyuk should accompany Christian Norgaard in the double pivot. Mikkel Damsgaard will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo being the two wide attackers. Finally, Yoane Wissa will lead the line for Brentford against Manchester United on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Henry; Norgaard, Yarmolyuk; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Brentford dugout, Ruben Amorim has a new issue to worry about ahead of the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. The Manchester United manager will be without six first-team players on Sunday.
Noussair Mazraoui is the latest absentee after picking up a knock earlier this week in the UEFA Europa League clash with Athletic Club. The Moroccan international has joined Lisandro Martinez (knee), Diogo Dalot (calf), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Toby Collyer (match fitness), and Joshua Zirkzee (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Brentford on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Tyler Fredricson, Matthijs de Ligt, and Luke Shaw. Jaydan Kamason and Harry Amass will likely complete a youthful backline.
The wide duo will protect the centre-backs and provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, Christian Eriksen should make a rare start alongside Manuel Ugarte in the middle of the park. Finally, Chido Obi-Martin will spearhead the Manchester United attack against Brentford, with Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount bringing creative support.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Fredricson, de Ligt, Shaw; Kamason, Ugarte, Eriksen, Amass; Mainoo, Mount; Obi
Key Stats
- Brentford’s only win in the last 12 games vs Manchester United in all competitions was a 4-0 victory at home in August 2022. Ten of Manchester United’s 12 Premier League goals against the Bees have come in the second half, with three of the past five after the 90th minute.
- Brentford will aim to win three successive Premier League games for the first time since November 2023. Victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on April 19 ended the Bees’ run of eight home league matches without a win (D3 L5).
- Manchester United have won seven of nine UEFA Europa League games under Ruben Amorim, compared to six victories in 23 top-flight fixtures since his appointment. The Red Devils have failed to win each of their five most recent Premier League matches (D2 L3), their worst run for six years. The last time they went six league games without a win was in December 2015 under Louis van Gaal.
- Manchester United have won three of their 21 most recent Premier League games in London (D5 L13), with all three victories coming against Fulham.
- Brentford are the only side with two players directly involved in at least 20 Premier League goals this season – Bryan Mbeumo has scored 18 and provided six assists, while Yoane Wissa has 17 strikes and three assists. Wissa has found the back of the net in his three most recent Premier League appearances – he has never scored in four successive outings.
Player to Watch
Bryan Mbeumo
While Yoane Wissa, Kobbie Mainoo, and Mason Mount were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bryan Mbeumo as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Brentford and Manchester United at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Mbeumo has scored 11 Premier League home goals this season, one more than his combined tally in his first three seasons in the English top flight. The Cameroonian international will be eager to add to that total after drawing a blank against Nottingham Forest earlier this week.
Prediction
Brentford 1-0 Manchester United
With Manchester United focused on the UEFA Europa League, Brentford should have no issues getting past the Red Devils, even though they will not run away with the proceedings. The visitors have shown improvements in recent outings, even if results have not reflected that.
Manchester United’s defensive output should be impressive again, and Brentford will not create buckets of chances. However, the away side will unlikely put the Bees to the sword, and another narrow defeat is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-0 win for Thomas Frank and his charges.