Brentford host Tottenham in Premier League Matchweek 1 at Gtech Community Stadium on 22 August 2026 and there is already something genuinely curious about how this one is set up. Both sides arrive under relatively new managers having had messy 2025/26 seasons in different ways and neither brings verifiable form into the fixture, which makes it a more open game than a season opener between these two usually is. There is also no pre existing head to head data between the managers: Keith Andrews entered his first full season at Brentford after taking over in June 2025, while Roberto De Zerbi arrived at Tottenham on 31 March 2026, late enough into last season that his stamp on this squad is still being established.
Brentford are without Sepp van den Berg and Yehor Yarmoliuk, which forces adjustments in both defence and midfield and softens their usual compactness, while Tottenham are missing Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert to ACL injuries, leaving the wide channels noticeably thin and putting the creative burden on whoever operates centrally.
Andrews tends to set Brentford up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 that blends controlled build up with direct vertical passes and with van den Berg and Yarmoliuk out he will probably lean harder into Igor Thiago's physicality in the box and Kevin Schade's pace from wide. Schade stretching the shape while Thiago occupies Tottenham's centre backs is the most reliable route to an opening.
De Zerbi's Tottenham favour a possession heavy 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 built around a high line and intense pressing, with Sandro Tonali sitting deep as the midfield anchor to dictate tempo and shield the defence while more advanced players push forward. Richarlison carries the scoring responsibility up front but with Simons and Odobert unavailable, the creative load behind him falls to Tonali carrying further forward and whoever fills the wide slots and it is a thin hand.
The tension is that Tottenham want to press aggressively and control possession but Brentford's set pieces and Schade's pace in behind are a direct answer to that. Brentford will probably sit slightly deeper in the early stages, invite Tottenham forward and look to release Thiago on the counter: long balls into the box, Schade running in behind if the full backs push up. Whether De Zerbi's side can sustain that press without the injured wide players is a real question.
Tottenham have dominated this fixture since 2021, winning six of 11 meetings, while the most recent ended 0-0 at Brentford in January 2026, Tottenham unable to break them down despite controlling possession.
Brentford's set piece reputation does not depend on who is fit and with defensive absences elsewhere, Andrews will lean into it harder than ever. Tottenham need to be sharp in their marking, especially since the wide creativity that might otherwise keep Brentford's defensive block from settling is now missing. Without Simons and Odobert, it is harder to threaten wide enough to stop Brentford staying compact and organised for restarts.
Brentford 2-1 Tottenham. Brentford's set pieces are a direct answer to the question of how they score against a side that will dominate possession and Tottenham's enforced changes in wide areas make sustaining attacking pressure over 90 minutes harder than De Zerbi would want. Thiago and Schade are well placed to exploit the high line and without anyone to stretch the pitch wide, Tonali cannot plug every gap Brentford's transitions will open up.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
