Brentford Vs Manchester Utd

Brentford and Manchester United will square off at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon, both teams looking to secure their second wins of the week. Brentford earned a solid 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Thursday, while Manchester United were busy dispatching Athletic Bilbao in Spain.

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Since suffering a 2-1 defeat at the formidable St James' Park against Newcastle United on April 2, Brentford has enjoyed an impressive four-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League. This run has significantly bolstered their hopes of finishing in the top half of the table and potentially securing a European spot.

On Thursday night at the City Ground, Brentford claimed back-to-back victories for the first time since February. Goals from German striker Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa, one on either side of halftime, were enough to see off Nottingham Forest, who are currently fighting for a Champions League berth.

With the win in the East Midlands, Thomas Frank's side now sit in 11th place, just two points behind Fulham in 8th with four games remaining in the 2024-25 season. A finish in 8th could be enough for European qualification, so Brentford will be eyeing their final home matches as crucial opportunities to clinch a European spot. At Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford has scored an impressive 34 goals across 17 games—only Liverpool (39), Manchester City (39), and Newcastle United (38) have netted more at home.

Much of Brentford's success this season can be attributed to the attacking prowess of Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, who have stepped up in the absence of Ivan Toney. Together, they have scored a combined total of 35 goals in the Premier League, making them one of the most lethal attacking duos in the division.

On the other hand, Manchester United have been enduring a difficult domestic season, heading toward their worst league finish since returning to the top flight in the 1970s. However, their strong performance in European competitions has provided some comfort as they look to close out their disappointing 2024-25 campaign. United are on the verge of reaching the Europa League final, after securing a 3-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their semi-final in Spain, putting them in a commanding position.

Focusing on their Premier League form, Manchester United are currently on a five-match winless run. Their last domestic victory came on March 16, when they triumphed 3-0 over Leicester City with goals from Rasmus Højlund, Alejandro Garnacho, and Bruno Fernandes.

Despite their European success, Manchester United's league form is cause for concern. The club finds itself in 14th place in the Premier League, just three points clear of the relegation zone, with West Ham United sitting in 17th. United's away form has been particularly poor this season, as they rank 14th in the league for away performances. With just 18 goals scored on the road, only Everton (12), Southampton (13), and Leicester City (16) have scored fewer away goals in the league.

Both teams will be eager to secure another victory as they push for different goals in the final stretch of the season. Brentford's offensive threat and home form will be key in their pursuit of European qualification, while Manchester United will need to find a way to turn their fortunes around domestically despite their success in Europe.