Premier League: Bees and Eagles Clash in Early London Derby

Brentford vs Crystal Palace

A London derby awaits Brentford and Crystal Palace fans as the two clubs meet each other for their season opener on August 18.

The Eagles will be looking to continue their momentum from late last season, when new head coach Oliver Glasner took them from a relegation side to a mid-table club before the season ended. Closing the Premier League 2023/24 season on a seven-match unbeaten run, Crystal Palace had renewed hopes for next season.

And as they finished their club friendlies with an unbeaten slate, they now look to open their 2024/25 account on a good note against a Brentford squad that were plagued with injuries and a glaring scandal off the pitch.

Will the Bees take an upset on opening week? Or will Glasner’s side continue their team’s stellar form?

Let’s find out here at SBOTOP!

 

Talking Points

A soaring eagle can turn to a dark horse

Crystal Palace were on the brink of going back to the Championship for the first time since 2013. They only managed to get six wins with three months left in the season, and things looked irreparable.

That’s when the decision to sack Roy Hodgson was made, with former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner given the task of keeping the struggling Eagles afloat.

Glasner, as it turned out, was quite the miracle worker.

With the 49-year-old Austrian coach in charge, Crystal Palace avoided a sour end to the season and ended their campaign on a high note, finishing the year in 10^th-place—the first time they finished in the top half of the table since 2015.

So, for Palace supporters, there will be thoughts that ‘’If Glasner pulled that off in less than half a season, imagine what he can do in a full year.’”

Despite Michael Olise leaving for Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace are a club that has the tools to challenge the top dogs of the league.

Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton are just some of the key players that the Eagles have at their disposal, with fans hoping that they don’t leave the club for greener pastures elsewhere.

New signing Daichi Kamada is also one to watch, the forward having worked with Glasner back at Frankfurt.

If things go well at the start of the year and they avoid a disastrous run similar to last season, they may just be the surprise of the pack.

 

Brentford’s nightmarish season may continue

After a stellar campaign that saw the Bees finish ninth a couple of seasons ago, injuries and suspensions have hit Brentford hard.

They are one of the clubs with the lowest wage bill and spending power in the league, so just imagine the damage when the injury bug turned them into a downward spiral. A total of 18 different fitness-related absences marred the West London club last year, 13 of which lasted for more than five games.

Thomas Frank just about did anything he could think of for the club to survive the relegation battle. Luckily, they made it through, thanks to his capacity as a manager.

Ivan Toney’s ban for a gambling offence was also a huge reason why the club struggled the way they did. The 28-year-old was a goalscoring machine back in 2022/23, firing 20 goals and assisting four in 33 league matches played.

Bryan Mbeumo was tasked with filling in the role he left, and whilst the Cameroon international held his own, he wasn’t quite the prolific forward Toney was.

And it seems bad luck has followed Brentford into the new season after their £30 million striker—Igor Thiago—got injured in the pre-season, and will be out for a while.

If that’s not enough, they were also dealt a tough schedule, as they have to face—away from home— last season’s top five teams before September ends.

 

History

Both London clubs have faced each other numerous times. However, most of it was in the lower divisions back in the day, with this upcoming match-up only the seventh time they will meet in the Premier League—all of which have been contested in the 2020’s.

Overall, Palace have a slight edge in their head-to-head with 18 wins, whilst Brentford have 14.

However, out of the six Premier League matches they have played so far, five ended in a draw, with the Eagles securing the only win with a 3-1 result back in December 2023.

 

Betting Tip

Although I have the Eagles as the winners of this contest, you may go for an alternate bet on the match ending in a draw which is priced at 3.22. As I pointed out, their matches do tend to end in a stalemate.

If you’re gunning for Brentford, they’re priced at 2.42. There’s really not much that separates the two, but if last season’s Premier League 2024 results are to go by, I go for the slightly favoured.

It is what the Premier League 2024 odds say, after all.

   

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