Bournemouth and Brentford will be eager to continue their recent impressive runs when they lock horns at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday.
The games continue to come thick and fast in the Premier League, with Gameweek 29 kicking off only 48 hours after the previous matchday ended. The latest round of fixtures starts on Tuesday with three simultaneous games, including Bournemouth vs Brentford at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth’s recent resurgence has made the horrific 11-game winless run seem like a bad dream. The Cherries returned to winning ways early in January by coming from a goal down to beat Tottenham 3-2. Since then, Andoni Iraola’s men have embarked on an eight-match unbeaten streak to rise to tenth in the Premier League standings. So, European qualification may be on the cards.
On the other hand, Brentford may be the biggest surprise package of the 2025/26 season, as they have shown little effect of losing three pivotal figures last summer. The Bees are seventh on the Premier League table, only two points behind sixth-placed Chelsea. Meanwhile, Keith Andrews celebrated signing a new contract this past weekend by clinching a hard-fought 4-3 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.
The reverse fixture saw Brentford cruise to a 4-1 win over Bournemouth, with Kevin Schade scoring a match-winning hat-trick. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bournemouth head coach may be bereft of the services of half a dozen first-team players vs Brentford on Tuesday.
Iraola is sweating over Evanilson’s fitness, as the Brazilian striker sustained a dead leg in the Premier League clash with Sunderland this past weekend. Meanwhile, Julio Soler (unspecified), Lewis Cook (hamstring), Justin Kluivert (knee), and Ben Doak (thigh) remain in the treatment room. However, Marcos Senesi should be fit and available to take on Brentford.
Djordje Petrovic is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brentford on Tuesday. The backline will feature Alex Jimenez, James Hill, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ryan Christie and Alex Scott in the double pivot. Marcus Tavernier will reprise the no. 10 role, with Amine Adli and David Brooks being the two wide attackers. Finally, Eli Junior Kroupi will lead the line for Bournemouth against Brentford, with Rayan Vitor being a backup option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Christie, Scott; Adli, Tavernier, Brooks; Kroupi
Brentford
Unlike his counterpart in the Bournemouth dugout, Keith Andrews has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium. The Brentford head coach may be without seven first-team players on Tuesday.
Caoimhin Kelleher may be fit and available to take on Bournemouth, but he faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Antoni Milambo (knee), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Joshua Dasilva (knee), Vitaly Janelt (foot), Reiss Nelson (calf), and Fabio Carvalho (knee) remain in the treatment room.
Caoimhin Kelleher should return in the goal, with Brentford lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Tuesday. The backline will feature Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Sepp van den Berg, and Rico Henry.
As for the midfield unit, Jordan Henderson may return to the starting eleven to pair up with Yehor Yarmolyuk in the double pivot. Mikkel Damsgaard will reprise the no. 10 role, with Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade being the two wide attackers. Finally, Igor Thiago will spearhead the Brentford attack against Bournemouth this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry; Yarmolyuk, Henderson; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Igor Thiago
Key Stats
- Bournemouth have never won in seven attempts in the Premier League vs Brentford (D2 L5). The Bees are the only side the Cherries have faced without yet winning in the top flight. In all competitions, Brentford have won ten of their last 13 games against Bournemouth (D2 L1), including the five most recent meetings. The last side they had a longer winning run against was Preston North End between 2013 and 2016 (6).
- Bournemouth have drawn more Premier League games than any other side this season (12). Their 12 stalemates are already their most in a top-flight campaign. However, the Cherries are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games (W4 D4). Only once did they have a longer run without loss in the top flight, going 11 games without defeat between November and January last season.
- Having lost seven of their first eight away Premier League games this season (W1), Brentford have won five of their last six on the road (L1). They are looking to win four successive matches away from home for only the second time in the competition after a run of five between January and March last season.
- Igor Thiago’s 18 goals have been worth 15 points to Brentford in the Premier League this season, the most of any player in the competition thus far in the 2025/26 season.
- In the Gameweek 28 match against Sunderland, Evanilson became the first Bournemouth player to be subbed on, score and then be subbed off in a league match since James Keene against Brentford in October 2005.
Player to Watch
Kevin Schade
While Igor Thiago, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Amine Adli were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Kevin Schade as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Brentford at the Vitality Stadium.
Schade scored a hat-trick in Brentford’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth at the Gtech Community Stadium in December. The only players to score four or more goals against the Cherries within a Premier League campaign are Harry Kane (5 in 2015/16), Romelu Lukaku (4 in 2016/17), and Mohamed Salah (4 in 2018/19). So, it is hardly surprising that the German winger is a top FPL transfer recommendation for Gameweek 29.
Prediction
Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford
Bournemouth’s near-two-month unbeaten run has lifted spirits at the Vitality Stadium and raised hopes of European qualification. However, in Gameweek 29, the Cherries face one of their most daunting opponents in Premier League history, as they have never beaten Brentford in the competition.
The visitors are also in superb touch, often scoring goals for fun. So, with both teams having a few defensive issues, a closely-contested affair is on the cards. Marcus Tavernier, Amine Adli, Kevin Schade, and Igor Thiago will showcase their offensive abilities in the midweek Premier League tie, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between Bournemouth and Brentford
