The games continue to come thick and fast in the Premier League, with Gameweek 29 kicking off only 48 hours after the previous matchday ended. The latest round of fixtures starts on Tuesday with three simultaneous games, including Bournemouth vs Brentford at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth’s recent resurgence has made the horrific 11-game winless run seem like a bad dream. The Cherries returned to winning ways early in January by coming from a goal down to beat Tottenham 3-2. Since then, Andoni Iraola’s men have embarked on an eight-match unbeaten streak to rise to tenth in the Premier League standings. So, European qualification may be on the cards.
On the other hand, Brentford may be the biggest surprise package of the 2025/26 season, as they have shown little effect of losing three pivotal figures last summer. The Bees are seventh on the Premier League table, only two points behind sixth-placed Chelsea. Meanwhile, Keith Andrews celebrated signing a new contract this past weekend by clinching a hard-fought 4-3 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.
The reverse fixture saw Brentford cruise to a 4-1 win over Bournemouth, with Kevin Schade scoring a match-winning hat-trick. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Andoni Iraola has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bournemouth head coach may be bereft of the services of half a dozen first-team players vs Brentford on Tuesday.
Iraola is sweating over Evanilson’s fitness, as the Brazilian striker sustained a dead leg in the Premier League clash with Sunderland this past weekend. Meanwhile, Julio Soler (unspecified), Lewis Cook (hamstring), Justin Kluivert (knee), and Ben Doak (thigh) remain in the treatment room. However, Marcos Senesi should be fit and available to take on Brentford.
Djordje Petrovic is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brentford on Tuesday. The backline will feature Alex Jimenez, James Hill, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ryan Christie and Alex Scott in the double pivot. Marcus Tavernier will reprise the no. 10 role, with Amine Adli and David Brooks being the two wide attackers. Finally, Eli Junior Kroupi will lead the line for Bournemouth against Brentford, with Rayan Vitor being a backup option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Christie, Scott; Adli, Tavernier, Brooks; Kroupi
Unlike his counterpart in the Bournemouth dugout, Keith Andrews has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium. The Brentford head coach may be without seven first-team players on Tuesday.
Caoimhin Kelleher may be fit and available to take on Bournemouth, but he faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Antoni Milambo (knee), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Joshua Dasilva (knee), Vitaly Janelt (foot), Reiss Nelson (calf), and Fabio Carvalho (knee) remain in the treatment room.
Caoimhin Kelleher should return in the goal, with Brentford lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Tuesday. The backline will feature Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Sepp van den Berg, and Rico Henry.
As for the midfield unit, Jordan Henderson may return to the starting eleven to pair up with Yehor Yarmolyuk in the double pivot. Mikkel Damsgaard will reprise the no. 10 role, with Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade being the two wide attackers. Finally, Igor Thiago will spearhead the Brentford attack against Bournemouth this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry; Yarmolyuk, Henderson; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Igor Thiago
While Igor Thiago, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Amine Adli were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Kevin Schade as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Brentford at the Vitality Stadium.
Schade scored a hat-trick in Brentford’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth at the Gtech Community Stadium in December. The only players to score four or more goals against the Cherries within a Premier League campaign are Harry Kane (5 in 2015/16), Romelu Lukaku (4 in 2016/17), and Mohamed Salah (4 in 2018/19). So, it is hardly surprising that the German winger is a top FPL transfer recommendation for Gameweek 29.
Bournemouth’s near-two-month unbeaten run has lifted spirits at the Vitality Stadium and raised hopes of European qualification. However, in Gameweek 29, the Cherries face one of their most daunting opponents in Premier League history, as they have never beaten Brentford in the competition.
The visitors are also in superb touch, often scoring goals for fun. So, with both teams having a few defensive issues, a closely-contested affair is on the cards. Marcus Tavernier, Amine Adli, Kevin Schade, and Igor Thiago will showcase their offensive abilities in the midweek Premier League tie, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between Bournemouth and Brentford
