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Chelsea return from the primary worldwide break to attempt to construct on the first rate begin we’ve made to the season, sitting second after the primary three rounds, unbeaten with the most effective protection and objective distinction within the league. You may even name that begin higher than first rate, however the schedule has been sort.

That kindness is nowhere to be discovered now nonetheless, on the opposite facet of the break. 4 (4) immediately video games are on faucet, throughout three (3) completely different competitions, within the subsequent ten (10) days: Brentford, Bayern (Champions League opener), Manchester United, after which Lincoln Metropolis within the League Cup.

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Our wonderful run of simply two defeats in our final 19 in all competitions will definitely be put to the check. First up, West Londoners Brentford, a lot modified from final season, and never for the higher, however all the time difficult at dwelling.

Date / Time: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 20.00 BST; 3pm EDT; 12:30am IST (subsequent day)Venue: Brentford Neighborhood Stadium, Brentford, TW8Referee: Stuart Attwell (on pitch); James Bell (VAR)Forecast: Windy, wet, summer season’s over

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Brentford workforce information: After seven years and over 300 video games as their supervisor, together with strong midtable finishes within the Premier League in three of the final 4 seasons, Thomas Frank left Brentford (for Spurs, of all locations). It was a tragic day for the native chewing gum suppliers, however that was simply the tip of the iceberg for the workforce by way of modifications this summer season. Gone are the 40 objectives (20 every) of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, the beginning goalkeeping of Mark Flekken, and the midfield anchoring of Christian Nørgaard as effectively.

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Brentford have gotten right here by way of good recruiting in fact, so the almost £100m on the assorted replacements could but show high quality enterprise — possibly even the £40m+ spent on Dango Ouattara alone from Bournemouth, who scored on his debut final week. Different notable arrivals embody high quality goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher (the Carlo Cudicini to Alisson’s Petr Čech at Liverpool), promising younger attacker Antoni Milambo, and veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson, again in England after a foolish spell in Saudi Arabia, and a much less foolish spell at Ajax Amsterdam.

In probably the most modern-football transfer, Brentford promoted set piece coach Keith Andrews to take over from Frank. His first aggressive sport in cost was a bit disastrous, shedding 3-1 to Nottingham Forest, however then they notched a high quality win towards Aston Villa at dwelling and beat Bournemouth within the League Cup earlier than struggling one other unhealthy defeat final weekend, this time 2-1 towards Sunderland — all three objectives scored within the closing quarter-hour. Match-again striker Igor Thiago, who missed all of final season with a knee damage, has scored in three of their 4 video games up to now.

Defensive midfielder Vitaly Janelt, who scored 2 of his 15 whole profession objectives towards Chelsea, may characteristic for the primary time since April. Proper again Michael Kayode has additionally been handed match following a quick brush with some kind of sickness.

Chelsea workforce information: All eyes had been on Cole Palmer this week, making an attempt to decipher grainy photographs from the coaching floor to find out his standing. Fortunately, he has now formally returned to coaching, although was not fairly a full participant. Presumably, he’ll begin solely on the bench. Younger Estêvão had been deputizing for Palmer; and deputizing to good impact, although we now even have deadline day arrivals Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Buonanotte vying for minutes.

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Not vying for minutes are all of the injured, together with Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, and Dário Essugo (long-term), and Benoît Badiashile and Roméo Lavia (simply short-term now). Gamers coming back from matches in South America, resembling Moisés Caicedo, and Brazilian trio Estêvão, João Pedro, and Andrey Santos, didn’t get again till Thursday, and that’s not precisely splendid both.

Beforehand: We have now only one win in our final six towards the Bees and our final three visits to this stadium have all resulted in attracts.