Fighting to earn a spot in the Conference League next season, Brentford and Fulham clash at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Bees managed a 1-0 success at the base of already-relegated Ipswich Town last time out, whilst the Cottagers' poor form continued at home versus a resurgent Everton.
Match preview
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Following a lowly 16th-placed finish in the top flight during the 2024-25 campaign, Brentford are on course to qualify for European competition for the first time in their history, should they be able to secure their highest-ever Premier League standing over the next week.
The Bees are in red-hot form ahead of Sunday afternoon's crunch clash at the Gtech Community Stadium, enjoying a six-game unbeaten run at the top table of English football, collecting 14 points and netting a staggering 12 goals across that fruitful spell as they chase down the continental stage.
Thomas Frank's troops sealed a fourth straight success last Saturday afternoon at Portman Road, where an in-form German found the net against struggling Ipswich, with Kevin Schade squeezing his effort past Tractor Boy Alex Palmer to ensure an away-day triumph for Brentford.
Last tasting defeat in the Premier League back at St James' Park against Newcastle United in early April, the Bees are in the pole position of eighth spot as they look to pip Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Fulham to a Conference League berth, boasting 55 points from 36 contests.
Recently nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award, Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo is especially deserving of a spot in the European spotlight next season, with the Cameroonian bagging 18 goals and providing seven assists across 36 top-flight appearances.
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Europa League finalists in 2010 when they faced Diego Forlan's Atletico Madrid in the final, Fulham have European experience which easily overrules that of their top-eight rivals, but the West Londoners are beginning to stumble and stutter like a novice in their pursuit of the Conference League.
The Cottagers have lost four of their last five Premier League matches ahead of this weekend's trip across the capital to the Gtech Community Stadium, with the latest of those defeats arriving last time out, when goals from Vitaliy Mykolenko, Michael Keane and Beto secured a 3-1 win for Everton at Craven Cottage.
Netting the opening goal of the contest last weekend for Marco Silva's men, Raul Jimenez is returning to the heights of his Wolverhampton Wanderers days in West London, scoring 11 goals across 36 top-flight games this season, and the resurgence of the Mexican will be greatly celebrated even if Fulham fail to qualify for Europe.
Earning just three points from their last five top-flight battles, the Cottagers have slumped down to 11th place in the Premier League standings with only two games to go, knowing that they must beat Brentford on Sunday to have any chance of finishing in eighth spot on May 25.
Despite ranking just 11th in terms of away form, Silva's troops are relatively solid away from Craven Cottage, conceding just 22 goals across 18 outings, with only Arsenal (16), Brentford (21), Everton (21) and Manchester City (21) allowing fewer strikes during their respective away matches.
Team News
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Brentford could be set to welcome Aaron Hickey back to the matchday squad for the first time since the autumn of 2023 following a serious hamstring injury.
The flying Scotsman has work to do in order to squeeze into an in-form XI, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Michael Kayode performing admirably in full-back roles at the moment.
The Bees are without the services of influential midfielder Vitaly Janelt, who has undergone surgery on a heel problem suffered in April.
There will also be no sight of former Liverpool man Fabio Carvalho before the conclusion of the season, with the attacker nursing a shoulder issue.
Fulham have a number of first-team stars in the medical room, and the only one who could feature again this campaign is midfielder Sasa Lukic.
Reiss Nelson's hamstring problem required surgery meaning that the Arsenal loanee is targeting a return to action for the his parent club during pre-season.
Silva is short of options in midfield and at the back, with Timothy Castagne (ankle) and Harrison Reed (calf) nursing their respective injuries.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Yarmolyuk; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Pereira, Berge; Traore, Smith Rowe, Willian; Jimenez
We say: Brentford 2-1 Fulham
On the verge of qualifying for Europe, Brentford should be confident of putting an out-of-form Fulham to the sword at the Gtech on Sunday afternoon.
The Cottagers are battling on with a host of injuries and are likely to wave goodbye to their continental dreams at the base of their West London neighbours.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
