On the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Brentford secured a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Yoane Wissa scoring the decisive goal. This win gave Brentford an ideal start to the 2024/25 campaign.
The match began with Brentford manager Thomas Frank sticking with the same line-up that had started their final pre-season match against Wolfsburg.
Notably, new signing Fábio Carvalho was named among the substitutes, while striker Ivan Toney was absent from the squad, with Frank citing transfer interest as the reason for his exclusion.
Brentford started the game on the front foot, showing confidence in their play and securing an early corner. However, it was Crystal Palace who created the first clear chance. Eberechi Eze, displaying impressive skill, fed the ball to Daichi Kamada, who then passed it out wide to Daniel Muñoz. Muñoz's cross found Jean-Philippe Mateta, who flicked the ball on, allowing Tyrick Mitchell to take a shot that narrowly missed the target.
In the 15th minute, Eze again threatened as he advanced into Brentford's half and chose to shoot from the edge of the area, only to have his effort blocked by Nathan Collins. Crystal Palace continued to push forward, and a moment of high drama came when Eze's free-kick found the back of the net. However, referee Sam Barrott had spotted fouls on Brentford's defenders Nathan Collins and Christian Nørgaard, disallowing the goal.
Despite Palace's pressure, it was Brentford who struck first. Just before the half-hour mark, a well-coordinated move between Nørgaard, Wissa, and Bryan Mbeumo down the right flank saw Mbeumo cut inside and unleash a left-footed shot that beat Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson to give Brentford the lead. The goal came somewhat against the run of play, but it showcased Brentford's clinical finishing.
Brentford nearly doubled their lead soon after, with Mbeumo once again finding space and setting up Kristoffer Ajer, who attempted to chip Henderson. The Palace keeper, however, stood tall and denied the attempt. Kevin Schade also came close to replicating his goal from last season's fixture, but his curling shot just missed the far post.
As the first half drew to a close, Palace had one more opportunity to equalize. Marc Guéhi, who had been booked earlier for a foul, sent a long ball into Brentford's box, where Kamada teed up Mateta. However, Mateta's shot failed to hit the target, leaving Brentford with a narrow lead at halftime.
The second half began with Brentford's center-backs, Ethan Pinnock and Nathan Collins, combining in an attempt to extend their lead. Pinnock flicked on a cross from Vitaly Janelt, but Collins was unable to direct his shot on goal. Palace responded with a well-worked corner routine that saw Adam Wharton unleash a powerful shot, which deflected off Pinnock and went narrowly wide.
Palace continued to press for an equalizer, and their persistence paid off in the 57th minute. Mitchell delivered a deep cross from the left, which Muñoz headed back across goal. In an attempt to clear the ball, Pinnock inadvertently put it past his own goalkeeper, leveling the score at 1-1.
Just minutes later, Odsonne Édouard, who had replaced Mateta at halftime, thought he had given Palace the lead when he lifted the ball over Flekken and into the net. However, the goal was ruled out for offside, keeping the score level.
As the game progressed, both teams had chances to take the lead. Wharton found space on the edge of the box and unleashed a fierce strike that was pushed away by Flekken. At the other end, Brentford's Janelt had a chance to score but skewed his shot wide of the target.
With the match finely poised heading into the final 15 minutes, it was Brentford who seized the initiative. In the 76th minute, substitute Mikkel Damsgaard delivered a cross from the right, which Collins met with a shot that deflected off Muñoz. Henderson managed to get a hand to the ball, but it fell kindly to Wissa, who bundled it over the line to restore Brentford's lead.
Crystal Palace pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, with Eze and Jordan Ayew both testing Flekken. However, the Brentford goalkeeper was equal to the task, making crucial saves to preserve his team's advantage. Collins, who had been instrumental at both ends of the pitch, blocked a powerful shot from Eze, and Flekken acrobatically tipped the ball over the bar to deny Palace once again.
Despite Palace's late pressure, Brentford held on to secure all three points, getting their Premier League campaign off to a strong start. The victory highlighted Brentford's resilience and ability to withstand pressure, as well as their effectiveness in taking their chances.
The match ended with Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressing satisfaction with his team's performance. Brentford's lineup, which included Flekken in goal, Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, and Ajer in defense, Nørgaard, Janelt, and Jensen in midfield, and a front three of Mbeumo, Schade, and Wissa, had done enough to earn the win.
For Crystal Palace, it was a frustrating start to the season, despite creating several opportunities.
In the end, the match was decided by fine margins, with Brentford emerging as the victors on an opening weekend filled with drama and excitement. The attendance at Gtech Community Stadium was 16,988, with both sets of fans treated to an entertaining and hard-fought encounter.
Thomas Frank's positive reaction
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank couldn't hide his elation after the Bees' win on Sunday but made it clear that he expects even more from his team.
Reflecting on the match, Frank acknowledged the challenges they faced, explaining that it was a tough game against a strong Crystal Palace side.
He admitted that Brentford started poorly in the first 20 minutes, giving credit to Palace for their strong start, but noted how his team grew back into the game, improving steadily and eventually scoring an unbelievable goal.
Frank described the second half as back and forth, conceding that Palace probably edged it during that period.
Despite this, he was critical of the goal they conceded, saying it was one they should have avoided.
However, he praised his team’s resilience, highlighting how they kept fighting and stayed in the game. Frank specifically mentioned the impact of substitutes Mikkel Damsgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter, who did very well in changing the game.
He was pleased with the decisive goal, acknowledging although it took a slight deflection, they all count.
Frank concluded by emphasising while the game was fairly even, Brentford managed to edge it, which he believes is a significant quality. He emphasised the importance of the win, noting it provides a boost in every aspect, but firmly stated that he still wants more from his side.
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