XABI ALONSO’S CHELSEA FACE STIFF TEST AGAINST KEITH ANDREWS’ UNBEATEN BRENTFORD IN WEST LONDON DERBY.

The match at the Gtech Community Stadium kicks off at 8pm, with Chelsea sitting sixth in the table on seven points from four games and Brentford seventh on six points. Alonso’s team arrive one place and one point above their neighbours after a mixed start to the campaign.

Chelsea’s recent league form has been inconsistent. They suffered a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on 6 September, followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Hull City last weekend. Prior to that, Alonso’s side had posted a dramatic 4-3 victory over Brighton and a 3-2 win away at Fulham, in which Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and João Pedro were on the scoresheet.

Alonso, who took charge on 1 July after signing a four-year contract, has publicly characterised his early work as “an update” rather than a full reset of the squad that finished outside European places last season. With only four league matches completed, the Spaniard has two wins, one draw and one defeat, leaving Chelsea still searching for consistency.



Brentford, by contrast, remain unbeaten. Andrews’ side opened the season with a convincing 3-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur on 22 August and have since drawn their next three fixtures: 1-1 away at Leeds, 1-1 at home to Sunderland and 2-2 at Bournemouth. The Bees have conceded just four goals while scoring seven, giving them a positive goal difference of +3.

Andrews was appointed head coach in June 2025 following Thomas Frank’s departure to Tottenham. The former set-piece coach has stabilised the team and earned a long-term contract extension earlier this year. His side’s defensive organisation and ability to frustrate higher-profile opponents have been evident throughout the opening weeks.



The fixture carries local rivalry significance. Chelsea will be without João Pedro, who is sidelined with a knee issue expected to keep him out for three to four weeks. Brentford are missing several players through injury, including centre-backs Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg, midfielder Mathias Jensen and others.

Both managers have stressed the importance of the result before the international break. A victory for Chelsea would lift them clear of the mid-table pack and provide validation of Alonso’s early methods. For Brentford, another positive result against one of the league’s traditional powers would further underline Andrews’ progress and keep them firmly in the conversation for a European place.

The teams last met in competitive fixtures with mixed outcomes, but current form suggests a tightly contested encounter. Chelsea possess attacking quality through players such as Palmer and Rogers, while Brentford’s home record and tactical discipline under Andrews present a clear challenge.

Kick-off is at 8pm at the Gtech Community Stadium, with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports. The outcome will offer the clearest indication yet of how both west London sides are shaping up under their respective new managerial regimes this season.