Chelsea vs Brentford Predictions

• Chelsea have conceded in seven of their last 10 home games in all competitions.
• Both teams have scored in three of Brentford’s last five games and they’ve only failed to score in one of those.
• Chelsea may rotate their starting XI ahead of Real Madrid’s visit on Wednesday.
• The reverse fixture was a close game, with Chelsea winning 1-0.

Chelsea have other targets ahead of Bees visit

Chelsea entertain Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday in a game that could be closer than the odds suggest.

The Blues are heavy favourites to take all three points but this fixture won’t be a huge priority for the Stamford Bridge side as they have the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid to come next week.

Chelsea look set to finish in the top four but the title is out of reach, and as such they are free to focus on their cup commitments as they also have an FA Cup semi-final on the horizon in April.

Brentford aren’t completely out of the woods just yet in the fight against the drop, and unlike their hosts they don’t have anything other than their league campaign to focus on.

Goals markets look a good starting point

A home win with both teams to score does have some appeal but I’m going to err on the side of caution and stick with a simple both teams to score selection as the main bet here.

Chelsea have only managed three clean sheets in their last 10 games at Stamford Bridge and have conceded in recent games against the likes of Norwich and Luton away from home.

Both teams to score has been a winning bet in six of Brentford’s last 11 games and they have only failed to score in three of those fixtures. There is also a good chance Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will opt to rotate for this game ahead of the visit of Real on Wednesday, and that may well lead to a few more opportunities going forward for the visitors.

Chelsea did win the reverse fixture 1-0 but Brentford gave a good account of themselves in that meeting and were arguably unlucky not to get anything out of the game, and they should be able to at least get on the scoresheet against a Chelsea side with other priorities.

Home advantage gives Chelsea the edge

I may be expecting a close game and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Brentford get a result, but for the correct score prediction it makes sense to back the hosts regardless as Chelsea have an impressive home record and the Bees have five defeats in their last six away in the Premier League.

Chelsea haven’t lost at home since a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City way back in September but they’ve not been thrashing teams either, and although they have won four of their last five home games only one of those wins has been by more than two goals. Tuchel’s men have scored exactly two goals in four of their last seven at home across all competitions, and as such a 2-1 win for Chelsea looks to have a chance in the correct score market.

Chelsea predicted lineup: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Kovacic, Ziyech, Mount, Werner, Lukaku

Brentford predicted lineup: Raya, Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry, Norgaard, Jensen, Mbeumo, Eriksen, Wissa, Toney