Welcome back, Premier League fans! After a long summer break, two top-10 teams from last season, Nottingham Forest and Brentford, are set to face off in a thrilling season opener at the City Ground.
Forest's European Ambitions
After a fantastic campaign that saw them finish seventh and secure a spot in the Europa League, Nottingham Forest are back with high hopes. They've consolidated their position in the Premier League and now have their sights set on a deep European run and a place among the top six. With manager Nuno Espirito Santo holding onto his key players, the Tricky Trees are determined to make the City Ground a fortress once more.
Last season, they had a tough end at home, taking just one point from their final four home games. However, their home record before that was stellar, and Nuno is hoping to return to that form immediately. Despite a challenging preseason with no wins and few goals, the team is looking forward to putting those results behind them. Nuno himself has a perfect record in his five previous Premier League openers, so the odds are in their favor.
A New Era for Brentford
Brentford, on the other hand, are entering a new chapter. Following the departure of long-time manager Thomas Frank, rookie coach Keith Andrews has taken the reins. He has some big shoes to fill, as the Bees had a remarkable season, finishing 10th with their second-best points total in the top flight. They were known for their prolific scoring, finishing fifth in the league with 66 goals.
Their away form was particularly interesting last season. They struggled early on, failing to win any of their first nine away games, but became a dominant force on the road in 2025, tallying more wins and points than any other team. Despite losing their manager and key players like Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, Brentford has brought in new talent, including Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho, and have a club-record deal for Dango Ouattara. With captain Christian Norgaard also gone, new signing Jordan Henderson is expected to make his debut in midfield.
Team News and Lineups
Nottingham Forest will be without midfielder Nicolas Dominguez due to a knee injury. However, they've kept key man Morgan Gibbs-White and are bringing in new faces like Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee. Swiss winger Dan Ndoye is also expected to start.
Brentford has their own injury concerns with Vitaly Janelt out, and doubts over Kevin Schade and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Still, they're looking to make an impact with new signings like Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho.
This match is shaping up to be a fascinating battle of new beginnings. Can Forest start their European season with a dominant home victory? Or will Brentford's new-look squad prove their resilience and maintain their unbeaten record in season openers?
Possible starting lineups:
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Cunha, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Jensen, Henderson; Carvalho, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Thiago
