Nottingham vs Brentford prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2025-08-16 13:00.
[p]Following on from their highest top-flight finish since 1994/95, UEFA Europa League newcomers Nottingham Forest will get their 2025/26 campaign underway against a new-look Brentford, who will be managed by Keith Andrews for the first time.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]A miserable set of pre-season results (D5, L2), as well as the sale of some key players, could leave some Forest fans less than optimistic about matching or exceeding last season’s seventh-place finish. The exit of Anthony Elanga has weakened their attacking unit, but Nuno EspĂrito Santo has at least strengthened his squad by signing Dan Ndoye from Bologna and Botafogo’s Igor Jesus, while Morgan Gibbs-White penning a new deal is a further boost. They’ll be clinging onto any positive omens they can do here too, as Forest are winless in their season-opening league game in the last seven campaigns (D2, L5).[/p]
[p]Brentford might be the perfect opening opponent given the transitional period the Bees are going through. Not only has former head coach Thomas Frank departed for Tottenham, but first team regulars Bryan Mbeumo, Mark Flekken and Christian Norgaard have all been sold as well. It is therefore little surprise that the club are among the bookies’ favourites to be relegated, but they at least went through the pre-season unbeaten, fuelling confidence that they can retain their unbeaten record in the opening game of a Premier League season (W2, D2).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Nottingham Forest have been on a miserable run against Brentford, whom they have beaten in just one of the last eight H2Hs (D3, L4), including a 2-0 defeat at the City Ground late last season.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Forest haven’t scored a Premier League home goal after the hour mark since February.[/p]
[p]They also finished 2024/25 by failing to score first in their final four home league games.[/p]
[p]Brentford have the best Premier League away record of all clubs (W7, D2, L1) in the 2025 calendar year.[/p]
[p]The Bees scored at least once in each of their last seven competitive matches (W4, D2, L1).[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels will be hoping to pick up where he left off last season, as his 13 clean sheets was the joint-most in the Premier League. Brentford’s Kevin Schade also had an impressive 2024/25 campaign, netting a career-best 11 top-flight goals, winning each of the eight fixtures in which he netted.[/p]
[p]The hosts remain without Nicolás DomĂnguez due to a long-term knee injury. Brentford meanwhile are sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher due to a knock picked up in training. [/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With Brentford usually starting the season strongly, and Forest struggling to get going, backing Brentford in the double chance market might prove profitable.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Matt Jones[/i][/p]