Brentford FC

Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford  Brentford FC

Brentford's summer buys settled in seamlessly as the Bees chalked up an excellent 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in their opening fixture of the 2026/27 season.

Club-record signing Mamadou Sangaré starred on his Premier League debut, while fellow summer arrivals Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson joined the fray as Keith Andrews' side kicked off the new campaign in impressive fashion.

Two goals up at the break thanks to strikes from Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt, Brentford added a third shortly after the restart when Michael Kayode blasted home from a corner.

The Bees could even afford the luxury of Igor Thiago's 55th-minute penalty hitting the post as they ran out comfortable winners.

It was a superb high-energy performance throughout, with Brentford's midfield trio of Sangaré, Mathias Jensen and Janelt setting the tone.

In his first competitive outing since joining the Bees from Ligue 1 side Lens, Sangaré oozed class during his 76 minutes on the field.

Athletic, tenacious and crisp in his passing, the Mali international earned glowing praise from his head coach afterwards.

"I really enjoyed his performance," remarked Andrews of Sangaré, who is likely to have played his way into plenty of Fantasy Football teams on the back of an outstanding debut.

The 24-year-old ranked highly across a range of defensive statistics in Ligue 1 last term and clocked up two tackles, two interceptions and two clearances on his Premier League bow.

That ability to win possession and use the ball intelligently persuaded the Bees to move for Sangaré in the summer, and on this evidence he offers plenty in attacking areas too.

Sangaré was heavily involved in two of Brentford's goals, laying on Lewis-Potter's opener with an inch-perfect pull-back after a fantastic one-two with Dango Ouattara, before firing in a fierce snapshot in the build-up to Kayode's goal.

Alongside Sangaré, Jensen and Janelt were equally impressive. Jensen's numbers at the end of last season placed him among the most creative midfielders in the English top flight, and the Dane's distribution was a cut above against Spurs.

No player on either side completed more key passes than Jensen (3), who also completed a staggering 96 per cent of his passes.

The scorer of the Bees' second goal, Janelt, delivered a colossal player-of-the-match display. The German dynamo won more tackles (4), made more interceptions (4) and swung in more accurate crosses (4) than any Brentford player, while the sight of Janelt tigerishly pressing in the dying minutes typified the hosts' collective intensity and work ethic.

There were also early signs of the added attacking options Andrews now has at his disposal. Former Burnley wide man Anthony was involved in a number of dangerous raids down the right, finishing with three key passes to his name, while Wilson looked sharp after replacing Thiago on 83 minutes.

Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur  Brentford FC

Brentford made the perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League season with an impressive 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium.

Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt gave the Bees a commanding half-time lead before Michael Kayode added a third shortly after the restart. Igor Thiago also struck the post from the penalty spot as Keith Andrews’ side began the campaign in style.

The Bees boss opted for the same XI that lined up against Frankfurt the previous weekend, with midfielder Sangaré making his Premier League debut.

Brentford started brightly in the west London sunshine. Mathias Jensen’s in-swinging free-kick, won by Kevin Schade, was flicked over the crossbar by Andy Robertson, before Lewis-Potter’s fierce volley from the resulting corner was blocked by Sandro Tonali.

Jensen then robbed Lucas Bergvall, exchanged passes with Janelt and crossed for Nathan Collins, who headed wide from inside the six-yard box.

Brentford’s first goal of the Premier League season arrived after 12 minutes at the end of a move of real quality.

Having taken up an advanced position, Sangaré collected the ball from Collins, played a one-two with Dango Ouattara and pulled it back for the arriving Lewis-Potter, who swept a first-time finish beyond Antonín Kinský.

Andrews’ side immediately went in search of a second. Lewis-Potter’s long ball was helped on by Collins and then Ajer, allowing Thiago to head against the crossbar at the far post, although the assistant’s flag was raised for an earlier offside.

It was one-way traffic at the Gtech. Jensen delivered a free-kick from a central position, which Kayode glanced over the crossbar.

Thiago then peeled out to the left and delivered a low cross towards Ouattara, but the winger’s heavy touch allowed Kinský to race off his line and intervene.

Brentford doubled their lead on 33 minutes. Richarlison failed to hold up the ball, allowing the Bees to seize possession inside the Spurs half.

Jensen was given time and space to wind up a shot from distance and, when Kinský could only parry his effort, Janelt tapped home the rebound.

As half-time approached, Ouattara fired over from 25 yards and then delivered a cross from the left, which Kayode headed wide.

It took Brentford less than five minutes to extend their advantage after the break with a set-piece routine perfected on the training pitches at Jersey Road.

Janelt’s deep corner was met by Collins, who headed the ball into the path of Sangaré. Kinský got down well to keep out the midfielder’s fierce strike, but Kayode - on his 50th Premier League appearance - was on hand to convert the rebound.

Then came Spurs’ best opportunity of the afternoon. Mathys Tel released Robertson down the left and the full-back picked out Mikey Moore at the back post, but the youngster was denied from close range by Kelleher.

The Bees had a golden chance to extend their advantage on 55 minutes. Janelt’s shot was blocked before Schade was pulled down by Rodrigo Bentancur, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot. Thiago sent Kinský the wrong way, but his spot-kick rebounded off the base of the post.

At the other end, Moore was again denied by Kelleher. Mateus Fernandes swept the ball out to the right and the forward’s first touch took him inside towards goal, but his stinging effort was well saved by the Brentford keeper.

Brentford then beautifully worked the ball down the right before Jaidon Anthony’s low cross was poked wide by Thiago.

Ajer nearly got in on the act when he met Damsgaard’s corner, but his near-post flick was too close to Kinský, who made a smart stop.

In the final action of the game, Callum Wilson’s shot deflected off Jan Paul van Hecke and behind, with Schade heading over from Janelt’s resulting corner.

The result extended Brentford’s unbeaten run in their opening home league fixture of the season to seven matches (W6 D1), stretching back to 2019.

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode (Hickey 76), Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Sangaré (Damsgaard 76), Jensen (Yarmoliuk 66); Ouattara (Anthony 66), Thiago (Wilson 83), Schade

Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Schuster, Henry

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Kinský; Gray (Udogie 86), van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Bergvall (Bentancur HT), Tonali, Gallagher (Fernandes HT); Moore (Maddison 67), Richarlison (Solanke 67), Tel

Subs: Dúbravka, Danso, Davies, Williams-Barnett

Attendance: 17,180

Andrews on Spurs success

Head coach Keith Andrews shared his thoughts after Brentford began the Premier League season with a 3-0 win against Tottenham.

"I’m really pleased. There was a lot to like about how the lads performed," said Andrews.

"I really like where we are at [as a team], but nobody is going to get carried away.

"We should enjoy games like this and days like this, as they are hard earned."

Janelt: We were front-footed from the start

Reflecting on Brentford’s commanding performance, goalscorer Vitaly Janelt said the Bees’ aggressive approach and positional flexibility were key to the victory.

“Straight from the off, we were very front-footed,” he explained. “We tried to make it very difficult for them and I think it went very well – we punished them.

“We’re all in sync and we all know what to do. Everyone can end up in different positions; sometimes I was pressing high and Mathi [Jensen] was dropping behind me.

“We adapted very well to different situations and worked very well together.”

Mamadou Sangaré will make his competitive Brentford debut in today's Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium (5.30pm kick-off BST, live on Sky Sports).

The midfielder starts for the Bees, with Keith Andrews naming an unchanged starting XI from last weekend's pre-season friendly win against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Caoimhín Kelleher starts behind a back four of Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins and Keane Lewis-Potter.

Sangaré is joined in the midfield by Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen, with Andrews opting to start with a front three of Dango Ouattara, Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade.

Jaidon Anthony, Jannik Schuster and Callum Wilson are listed amongst the substitutes.

Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Sangaré, Jensen; Ouattara, Thiago, Schade

Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Schuster, Henry, Hickey, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Anthony, Wilson

Tottenham: Kinský; Gray, van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Bergvall, Tonali, Gallagher; Moore, Richarlison, Tel

Head coach Keith Andrews sat down with the media on Friday morning ahead of Brentford’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports).

From the Bees’ ambitions for the new campaign and challenge posed by Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham to summer recruitment and the transfer window, here are five talking points from Andrews’ press conference at Jersey Road.

Summer transfer business

“Yeah, I’m really happy,” Andrews said when asked about Brentford’s work in the transfer window. “The squad’s in a good place.

“We knew where we were last season. We knew we were keen to add in certain areas. We’ve brought four players in from other clubs, and we’re really happy with the business that we’ve done.”

He added: “The squad depth that we have now is better than we had 12 months ago.

“We’re already a team that has really good cohesion, a really good understanding of the way we want to play the game.

“There’s trust throughout the football club from top to bottom. That’s a nice place to be.”

Facing Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi

“In regard to Spurs, obviously [De Zerbi] is a very, very good coach, a very experienced coach,” said Andrews.

“It’s a very different team, of course, but a lot of the individuals that they’ve signed are very familiar to us from what they’ve done at their respective clubs.

“We have an idea of what they will do. They’ll have their own plan, of course, which we’ll need to adapt to.”

Asked how Brentford could combat Tottenham’s style, the Bees boss continued: “I think we’ve shown as a team, as we’ve grown into this journey and this chapter together, that we can play in different ways.

“The fact that we can be unpredictable is one of our strengths.

“We’ve got players that complement each other in a certain way of playing that we’ve tried to evolve in pre-season.

“We feel that’s going in the right direction and that can cause any team problems.”

Ambitions for 2026/27

“I think the ambition for this season is to be better,” Andrews stated.

“I’m nine months away from [the end of the season], so I certainly won’t be shouting anything from the treetops.

“The one thing I would say, from where we were to where we are now, is we don’t have to stabilise like this time last year.

“We’ve started from a much better place. The players are in a good place and very, very ambitious to achieve something special this season.”

He also acknowledged that last season’s progress has changed the expectations around his side: “It’s just a different pressure. Expectations are slightly different. I’m okay with that.

“I want us to be an ambitious team. That’s not to lose sight of what has to get you results, doing the basics very well on a daily basis, and continuing to look to grow.

“If we get ahead of that in any way, we’ll quickly become unstuck.”

Callum Wilson’s role alongside Igor Thiago

“There’s certainly a scenario where they’re both on the pitch together,” Andrews explained.

“On Callum, firstly, he’s an amazing professional.

“We were keen to bring him here. We were keen to have honest discussions around what his role would be, obviously in and around Thiago.

“Callum’s done exactly what he says on the tin. He’s a serious pro. He’s a goalscorer.

“He’s fitted in brilliantly already on all levels.”

Andrews also highlighted the experience Wilson has brought to the dressing room: “The balance of experience in the dressing room and players that have played so many games in the Premier League, I think that is invaluable.

“The relationship he’s building up with Thiago and Kaye [Furo] is really impressive.

“The way they work on the training pitch, in meetings and just seeing them around the group, I’ve really enjoyed that.”

Mamadou Sangaré

“I think with [Mamadou], you’ll see his attributes,” Andrews stated. “We’ve seen pretty closely what he was able to do at Lens in different positions and different systems.

“He’s an all-rounder for me, so he complements us really, really well.”

Andrews later expanded on what the midfielder can offer: “He can do the hard yards, do all the defensive work, but he can run beyond our attacking players and provide that energy and calmness and technique.

“People would have seen it last weekend from the second phase of the corner kick: a really proactive position, but then the technique to produce a nice finish.

“I just want him to be him, really.

“I’m really happy with how he’s settled. It’s not always easy. We’re really happy with how he’s settled into our rhythm of how we play.

“I just want him to be him tomorrow. I want him to enjoy the game, enjoy the occasion and just play his game.”

Head coach Keith Andrews has confirmed that summer signing Mamadou Sangaré is in line to make his Premier League debut when Brentford welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off BST, live on Sky Sports).

The Mali international joined the Bees from Lens this summer and has impressed Andrews with how quickly he has adapted to his new surroundings.

Asked whether Brentford’s new arrivals Sangaré, Jannik Schuster, Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson could feature in the season opener, Andrews said: “Yes, I’d anticipate so.

“We’ve brought four players in from other clubs and we’re really happy with the business we’ve done and the impact they’ve made - both on and off the pitch.

“I have no doubt you’ll see some of them tomorrow.”

On Sangaré specifically, the Bees boss added: “He’s a very talented midfielder who can do lots of different aspects of that role.

“He’s a very focused, very determined and very ambitious young man. He’s very humble but equally as hungry to achieve impressive things. He’s certainly a player on an upward trajectory.”

The Bees completed their preparations for the new campaign in emphatic style with a 7-0 win over Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.

Sangaré featured in midfield, and Andrews has been pleased with his adjustment to Brentford’s style of play.

“I want him to be him,” said Andrews. “I spoke to him after training today. I’m really happy with how he’s settled. It’s not always easy.

“We’re really happy with how he’s settled into our rhythm of how we play. I was pretty confident that he would, but you never truly know.

“I want him to be him tomorrow. I want him to enjoy the game, enjoy the occasion, and just play his game.”

Andrews also provided an injury update on Sepp van den Berg and Antoni Milambo ahead of Tottenham’s visit to Gtech Community Stadium.

Van den Berg will miss the opening weeks of the campaign due to a groin issue after an interrupted pre-season.

“Sepp has a groin issue,” Andrews explained. “We’ve had to manage that in a certain way. He needs a little bit more rest, unfortunately for Sepp.

“He’s had a disjointed pre-season – it hasn’t flowed as well as we’d have liked – so we’re going to have to look after him in the short term. He’ll miss the first few weeks of the season.”

Milambo, meanwhile, continues to make progress with his rehabilitation.

“Antoni is a few weeks behind with the [ACL] injury,” said Andrews. “It’s not an exact science, naturally, but he’s had a really positive couple of weeks.

“He’s been training with the group for a number of weeks - sometimes modified, sometimes full training. He’s making really good strides.”

Head coach Keith Andrews has confirmed that summer signing Mamadou Sangaré is in line to make his Premier League debut when Brentford welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off BST, live on Sky Sports).

The Mali international joined the Bees from Lens this summer and has impressed Andrews with how quickly he has adapted to his new surroundings.

Asked whether Brentford’s new arrivals Sangaré, Jannik Schuster, Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson could feature in the season opener, Andrews said: “Yes, I’d anticipate so.

“We’ve brought four players in from other clubs and we’re really happy with the business we’ve done and the impact they’ve made - both on and off the pitch.

“I have no doubt you’ll see some of them tomorrow.”

On Sangaré specifically, the Bees boss added: “He’s a very talented midfielder who can do lots of different aspects of that role.

“He’s a very focused, very determined and very ambitious young man. He’s very humble but equally as hungry to achieve impressive things. He’s certainly a player on an upward trajectory.”

The Bees completed their preparations for the new campaign in emphatic style with a 7-0 win over Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.

Sangaré featured in midfield, and Andrews has been pleased with his adjustment to Brentford’s style of play.

“I want him to be him,” said Andrews. “I spoke to him after training today. I’m really happy with how he’s settled. It’s not always easy.

“We’re really happy with how he’s settled into our rhythm of how we play. I was pretty confident that he would, but you never truly know.

“I want him to be him tomorrow. I want him to enjoy the game, enjoy the occasion, and just play his game.”

Andrews also provided an injury update on Sepp van den Berg and Antoni Milambo ahead of Tottenham’s visit to Gtech Community Stadium.

Van den Berg will miss the opening weeks of the campaign due to a groin issue after an interrupted pre-season.

“Sepp has a groin issue,” Andrews explained. “We’ve had to manage that in a certain way. He needs a little bit more rest, unfortunately for Sepp.

“He’s had a disjointed pre-season – it hasn’t flowed as well as we’d have liked – so we’re going to have to look after him in the short term. He’ll miss the first few weeks of the season.”

Milambo, meanwhile, continues to make progress with his rehabilitation.

“Antoni is a few weeks behind with the [ACL] injury,” said Andrews. “It’s not an exact science, naturally, but he’s had a really positive couple of weeks.

“He’s been training with the group for a number of weeks - sometimes modified, sometimes full training. He’s making really good strides.”

Brentford host Tottenham Hotspur in our first Premier League game of the season on Saturday 22 August (5.30pm kick-off BST). The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Use this guide to get ready for arrival at the Gtech and find out how to take part in our matchday activity.

The club’s updated bag policy is in effect this season. Find out more about bag restrictions and exemptions here.

Fans are reminded to be respectful of our visitors at all times before, during and after the match.

Build the matchday atmosphere with TW8 Casuals

Fan group TW8 Casuals are kicking off Brentford’s season and want as many fans as possible to be part of the noise!

Wear red and white at the match to create a sea of red and white

Join a fan walk from Kew Green (meet by the cricket club), over Kew Bridge and arrive at the Gtech in style. The fan walk starts at 4.30pm

Be in your seat at 5pm to get behind the team during the warm-up

For our fans in the west stand, wave the flags placed on your seat (please leave your flag on your seat before you leave the stadium)

At 5.05pm, Stu Wakeford will have a pre-match chat with TW8 Casuals founder Gary Levine about the group’s plans for the season

Try London Pride Lager and other new menu items

We’ve refreshed the matchday menu in the concourse areas for the new season, including introducing London Pride Lager in all areas of the ground.

See what delicious new items and returning favourites are on offer for the rest of the season in our matchday menu update.

Bike to Brentford – start cycling now to win prizes!

Bike to Brentford returns with new special offers for fans that cycle to the match.

Check your bike in with the QR code at as many games as possible this season and earn rewards, including food and drink discounts, virtual meet and greets with players and a squad signed shirt

Park your bike for free at our temporary or permanent bike parks

Get free bike repairs

Activate discounts on Forest and Voi E-bikes

Terms and conditions apply on rewards. For more information and general advice about cycling to the Gtech, visit the Bike to Brentford page.

Other matchday activity

Bees legend and founder of the Brentford Penguins Allan Cockram will be speaking with Stu Wakeford at half-time

The Brentford Penguins will be back in their yellow van selling socks and homemade candles. Find the van outside the Bees Superstore

Be in your seat from 5pm to for a chance to play our Home or Away game. Correctly guess whether the mystery fan is wearing a home or away kit and you could win vouchers to spend at the club’s Hive Superstore

Travel

Train

No planned disruption is scheduled for matchday.

You can use the TfL journey planner or Citymapper to plan your journey to and from the match, including bus routes arriving near to the stadium.

Parking

We advise you to take public transport to the match where possible.

You can pre-book parking through our website for secure parking on matchday. No reserved parking is available to supporters unless a space has been pre-booked.

Digital ticketing – download your ticket in advance and arrive early to avoid queues

Tickets for home fans are fully digital and accessible on any smartphone.

To help you get into the stadium smoothly, we advise all fans to:

Download your ticket onto your phone before you arrive, so it’s ready at the turnstile without the need for internet connection

Arrive early to avoid queues and get discounts on food and drink (see deals below)

For any questions on the day, the box office opens at 11am. For guidance and FAQs on how to download your digital ticket, use the resources on our website.

Join our free stadium wi-fi

Use our free stadium wi-fi to access your digital tickets, get live match updates, or enjoy exclusive content through the Brentford FC app. Connecting is simple and quick, just input your name, date of birth and email address.

Early bird offers and post-match deals on food, alcoholic and soft drinks

A reduced-price early bird offer is available on food and drink.

Concourse offers are available 30 minutes after turnstiles open, 4pm-4.30pm:

£4.50 on all alcoholic drinks

£1.95 on all soft drinks

£4.50 on all food items (excluding guest caterers)

Premium area offers are available for one hour after turnstiles open, 3.30pm-4pm:

£4.50 on alcoholic drinks (excluding cocktails, wines or spirits)

£1.95 on all soft drinks

£2 on select food items (£4.50 for all food items in the Dugout except confectionery and doughnuts.

After the match, The Dugout bar in the south stand will be open to Bees fans to enjoy, with 20 per cent off all food and drink until 9pm (bar close at 8.30pm).

Countdown to kick-off - the timings you need to know

Half-time: Pitchside chat with Allan Cockram

Josh Dasilva is the feature interview in the matchday programme for Brentford's 2026/27 Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium.

The Bees begin their sixth-successive campaign in the top flight with a televised clash against Spurs on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off BST, live on Sky Sports).

In this weekend's programme, Dasilva reflects on the injuries that left him questioning everything, the faith that transformed his life and the long road back to doing what he loves most.

That interview is the first in a series of exclusive Long Read features with Brentford's first-team players and staff that will be included in the new and improved 2026/27 programme, which is available for just £3 once again this season.

Also inside the matchday programme this season

From the Dugout: Keith Andrews provides his thoughts ahead of each fixture

Columnists: Former Brentford striker Ben Burgess and Bees-supporting comedian Nathan Caton are joined by BBC Radio London broadcaster and journalist Phil Parry this year

The Game that Changed Everything: In-depth interviews with former players who look back at a key match in their Bees career. First up - Darren Pratley

Pull-out poster: Illustrator Dave Flanagan will produce bespoke posters of the first-team squad, with the first featuring our Brazilian no.9, Igor Thiago

Behind the Bees with Indeed: An opportunity to learn more about some of the different roles at the club, both on and off the pitch, and the people who thrive in them

Stat Attack: Stephen Gillett looks at the key numbers behind Brentford and their opponent, as well as examining a key head to head that could decide the fixture

Supporters can purchase the Tottenham programme online now or in the following locations on matchday:

Hive Superstore

Lionel Road South kiosk

Lionel Road South (Bees store location)

Lionel Road (Outside Hive story)

Box office

Dug-out

West stand

Family stand

North stand

East stand

Guarantee every programme for 2026/27 with a season-long subscription. The subscription includes all 19 Premier League home games and home cup games.

Programmes will be sent out the day before the game. Please expect three to four working days to receive your order.

Order your programme subscription online now

*Each Premier League issue will be 64 pages. Programmes for cup fixtures may differ in size and price