Chelsea have made a strong start to the 25/26 season, winning two of their three Premier League matches. These games have all been against London-based sides, so Chelsea’s tour of the capital continues here when they make the very short trip across West London to take on Brentford.

I had Brentford marked as one of the sides I thought may struggle this season, and their performances in the opening few weeks of the campaign confirm to me that they may find themselves in the ugly portion of the bottom half of the table this season.

Brentford’s three Premier League games so far have seen them lose to Forest and Sunderland on the road and register a 1-0 win over a struggling Villa side at home. I think they’ll really struggle to break down a Chelsea side that has only conceded one goal so far this term, and has one of the best defensive records this calendar year. 

Chelsea avoided defeat against the Bees in both meetings between the sides last season. The clash at the Gtech Community Stadium ended in a 0-0 draw, but Chelsea did get the better of Brentford at Stamford Bridge in a 2-1 victory. 

Chelsea’s stern backline will prove difficult for Kevin Andrews’ side to break down, especially when factoring in the losses of Mbeumo and Wissa during the summer transfer window. The Blues should be able to extend their positive record against London sides here; no London side won more city derbies than Chelsea in the Premier League last season.

Chelsea’s petulance is now pretty well documented; the Blues picked up more yellow cards than any side in the Premier League last season (99) and have started this campaign in a similar fashion.

Enzo Maresca’s side have been shown 2+ cards in two of their three Premier League matches so far. The exception was in their 5-1 win over West Ham, which was a game that naturally lacked intensity as it was so one-sided. Chelsea still received a caution in that game in the final few minutes.

This game represents the fourth London derby in a row that Chelsea have played to start the season, so we can expect some of the usual roughness that accompanies city affairs. Chelsea committed 12 fouls and collected three yellow cards in this fixture last season.

Not many new signings settle in as seamlessly as Joao Pedro has at Chelsea. He’s registered nine goal contributions across his eight appearances for the Blues across all competitions, with seven of these goal contributions being goals. His role in the side is even more important over the next few weeks, with Liam Delap expected to be out until at least November. 

Joao Pedro has had eight shots across his three Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season (2.85 per 90), with three of these attempts finding the target (1.07 per 90). Chelsea have been pretty consistent as an attacking side up until this point, with Enzo Maresca’s side having six or more shots on target in each of their last two matches against West Ham and Fulham. 

Joao Pedro had 47 shots across his 27 Premier League appearances last season (2.17 per 90) with 20 of these efforts finding the target (0.92 per 90). I expect this average to continue to rise for Pedro, seeing as he is playing as the main striker for Chelsea with Liam Delap sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Cucurella has committed four fouls across his three Premier League appearances so far this season (1.45 per 90). He’ll be in for a tough assignment here against Dango Ouattara, who has started positively for the Bees since making the move across from Bournemouth.

Ouattara has won three fouls across his two Premier League appearances this season. Cucurella regularly pushes on into advanced areas of the pitch under Maresca’s system, which usually sees him have to commit a few recovery fouls to ensure that the opposition don’t get an easy pass to goal down his side.

Cucurella committed 37 fouls across his 36 Premier League appearances last season (1.11 per 90). The Spaniard committed three fouls and was sent off when the sides clashed at Stamford Bridge last season. He didn’t start in this fixture last campaign, but did commit a foul in the 13 minutes he played from the bench.

Fernandez registered an assist against Brentford last season as Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners over the Bees at Stamford Bridge. He’s been influential at the start of the season for Chelsea with two goals and one assist across his three Premier League appearances so far.

No Chelsea player has registered more goal contributions than Enzo Fernandez this calendar year. He’s had to step up in the absence and cold form of Palmer at times this year and did exactly that against Fulham with a goal and an assist.

Fernandez registered 22 goal contributions across his 46 appearances for Chelsea last season in all competitions. This was a massive increase from the 10 goal contributions he managed in the 23/24 season which would suggest that his role has changed slightly under Maresca.

This is particularly true for his assist output. Across Fernandez’s first 62 appearances for Chelsea, he registered just five assists. In the 56 appearances since then, he’s set up 18 goals.

Yehor Yarmoliuk sits at the heart of Brentford’s midfield. He’s yet to be cautioned this season but has committed five fouls across his three Premier League appearances so far, playing at least 79 minutes in each of these games.

I think Chelsea have the best midfield options in the Premier League, and the duo of Fernandez and Caicedo are also incredibly strong when it comes to winning fouls:

• Fernandez - 1.65 fouls won p/90 (24/25 PL)

• Caicedo - 1.56 fouls won p/90 (24/25 PL) 

Yarmoliuk should contest plenty of duels against this pair. Brentford averaged fewer fouls committed per game than any other side last season (8.70 per game), but the early signs this season are that this record will be much higher this term. 

Yarmoliuk picked up six cards across his just 15 starts in the Premier League last season.

Kelleher hasn’t been that busy in the Brentford net so far this season, but I do expect that to change as the season goes on. Mark Flekken was forced into making 153 saves for Brentford last season (4.20 per 90), more than any other keeper in the division.

He maintained a save percentage of 73.5% which was also the highest in the league, and maybe suggests that Brentford were a bit too reliant on their shot stopper, who has moved on to Leverkusen. 

Kelleher will have to keep out a Chelsea side that has created the most chances in the Premier League this season and have had six or more shots on target in each of their last two Premier League outings.

Flekken was forced into making six saves in this fixture last season and was awarded man of the match for his performance.