The Pride of London
Fansided

Chelsea vs Brentford match preview: Premier League returns

By ROSHAAN KAPOOR

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: N'Golo Kante of Chelsea in action with Mathias Jensen and Frank Onyeka of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford and Chelsea at Brentford Community Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: N'Golo Kante of Chelsea in action with Mathias Jensen and Frank Onyeka of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford and Chelsea at Brentford Community Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 22: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea embraces Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea following the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Brentford and Chelsea at Brentford Community Stadium on December 22, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 22: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea embraces Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea following the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Brentford and Chelsea at Brentford Community Stadium on December 22, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

The ownership situation at Chelsea Football Club is now down to four candidates and with the recent news of Roman Abramovich being poisoned during the peace talks with the Ukrainian officials, it has been a roller coaster ride for Blues faithful during this international break. The players, on the other hand, enjoyed a productive international break. Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic all scored for their countries and Thiago Silva helped Brazil keep a clean sheet. The Blues have now progressed to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and semifinals of the FA Cup, so they are on a good run of form right now, winning their last six games in all competitions.

On the ownership front, four candidates have been shortlisted by The Raine Group: the Todd Boehly-led consortium, Sir Martin Broughton, the Ricketts family and Stephen Pagliuca. The Boehly consortium seems to be the front runner in the race, but nothing can be ruled out right at this moment. However, it’s time to put the ownership discussions to the side and focus on the task at hand, the return of Premier League football.

Coming to Stamford Bridge on Saturday is west London side, Brentford, who has had a good season. That said, there is still some work to be done in order to secure the Bees’ place in the top flight for the next season, so they will come to SW6 with a hungry attitude. They currently occupy the 15th spot in the table with an eight-point gap above the relegation spots (Everton and Burnley having three games in hand). These games in hand can turn Brentford’s situation into a dire one very quickly and easily, hence the stressed importance of every result.

Since the start of the new year, Thomas Frank’s side has only won four games in all competitions, two of which came in the last three games. This poor form has dragged the Bees down the table, but they still have their faith in their own hands with crucial games against Watford, Everton and Leeds United still to come. Brentford doesn’t have a good history of playing against Chelsea, having played five games and lost four of them and drawing one, which came back in 2013. From the get-go, this game seems like a one-sided affair.

Here is the complete match preview ahead of Saturday’s clash:

Home/Premier League