The season 2025 / 26 premiere sees an explosive game at The City Ground, as Nottingham Forest takes on Brentford. Forest go into the new season hoping to improve on their very good 7th-place and Europa League semi-finals last term, Brentford go into a new chapter following the departure of Thomas Frank, with a new head coach, Keith Andrews.
This team is a match that would be intense on the first day of the season as both teams would like to establish the tone of the season. Forest will hope to get home support and their best creative talisman at their disposal Morgan Gibbs-White, Brentford will hope that their new signings come out strongly.
Our prediction of the match
Nottingham Forest approach this game with massive hopes but grave pre-season form having scored zero in the three friendlies. Nevertheless, recent new recruits Igor Jesus and Dan Ndoye have prospects of attacking revival. Brentford had a better pre season to a small degree yet the loss of players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard has weakened Brentford.
With Forest enjoying home advantage, Gibbs-White creativity and Brentford being in a transitional period with a new manager, we think Nottingham Forest will get the win by a small margin 2-1.
Form Guide
Nottingham Forest
- 2024/25 Finish: 7th (65 points)
- Goals Scored: 58 (9th in league)
- Pre-Season Record: 0W – 2D – 1L
- 0-0 vs Al Qadsiah (H)
0-0 vs Fiorentina (H)
0-1 vs Birmingham (A)
Forest are struggling to score goals in pre-season and Nuno Espirito Santo will hope that the pace of Hudson-Odoi and aerial presence of Chris Wood can make use of Brentford new-look defence. Ibrahim Sangaré remains a major midfield bulldozer, with Ndoye providing attacking breadth and enthusiasm.
Brentford
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2024/25 Finish: 10th (56 points)
- Goals Scored: 66 (5th in league)
Pre-Season Record: 1W – 2D – 0L
2-2 vs Mönchengladbach (H)
0-1 vs QPR (A)
1-1 vs Gil Vicente (N
Keith Andrews has held onto the Brentford attacking system, although it appears that defensive organisation may be some time coming. New recruits CaoimhIn Kelleher, Michael Kayode and Jordan Henderson have found their feet to fit in fast, whereas Wissa and Thiago are the primary attacking force.
Head-to-Head Record (Last 5 PL Meetings)
- 01 May 2025: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Brentford
- 21 Dec 2024: Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest
- 20 Jan 2024: Brentford 3-2 Nottingham Forest
- 01 Oct 2023: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brentford
- 29 Apr 2023: Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Team News
Nottingham Forest:
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Out: Nicolas Dominguez (Knee)
Brentford:
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Out: Vitaly Janelt (Heel), Gustavo Nunes (Hamstring)
Predicted Lineups
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1):
Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenković, Williams; Yates, Sangaré; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Brentford (4-2-3-1):
Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Henry; Henderson, Jensen; Schade, Carvalho, Wissa; Thiago
Major fights to look forward to….
Morgan Gibbs-White v Jordan Henderson: The young creative force against the seasoned controlling force.
Chris Wood vs Nathan Collins: Tussles in the air and the physical might change the success in attack.
Yoane Wissa: Yoane Wissa The race can be significant as Brentford are involved in it and the forward of the team scored 12 goals during the previous season.
Betting Tips
- Full-Time Outcome: Nottingham Forest 2.10 to win
- Both To Score: Yes (1.85 odds)
- Anytime Scorer: Chris Wood (2.75)
- Correct Score Betting: 2-1 to Nottingham Forest (9.00)
Final Verdict
Nottingham forest might have had a rough time in the pre-season but last season home form and transitory issues of Brentford will make the game 1-0 to the actual hosts. A goal fest with an end to end contest however at this stage the form in the creation of attacking potential may give the Forest an advantage.
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Brentford
