Brentford will continue their preparations for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a pre-season friendly against Portuguese outfit Estrela Amadora on Tuesday morning.
The Bees will begin their Premier League season at home to Crystal Palace on August 18, while Estrela will take on Braga in their Primeira Liga opener on August 11.
Match preview
© Reuters
Brentford opened their preparations for the 2024-25 season with a 5-2 win over AFC Wimbledon on July 20, before drawing 1-1 with Portuguese giants Benfica last time out.
The Bees have two more friendlies after this one against Watford and Wolfsburg, before opening their new league campaign at home to Palace on August 18.
Thomas Frank's side finished 16th in England's top flight last season, 13 points clear of the relegation zone, and they will be bidding to secure a fifth straight campaign at this level of football.
Brentford signed Igor Thiago earlier this summer in a big-money deal, but the arrival from Club Brugge is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to the knee injury that he picked up against AFC Wimbledon.
David Raya has been their major outgoing, completing a big-money move to Arsenal, but England international Ivan Toney is still with the club despite the speculation surrounding his future.
© Reuters
Estrela, meanwhile, won promotion to Portugal's top flight in 2022-23, and they managed to finish 14th in the Primeira Liga last term to secure another campaign at the highest level.
Tricolores started their pre-season with a 4-3 loss to Pacos Ferreira on July 20, but they will enter this match off the back of a win, having beaten Estoril 2-1 on July 23.
Sergio Vieira's side will round off their preparations for the new season against Benfica II on August 3, before beginning their 2024-25 campaign against Braga on August 11.
Estrela have been incredibly busy this summer, with a number of players both joining and leaving the club in a huge turnaround, and their standout arrival has been Andre Luiz from Flamengo. Meanwhile, Kialonda Gaspar is among those to have departed, with the centre-back making the move to Lecce.
- L
- W
- W
- D
Team News
![England's Ivan Toney pictured during the warm-up on June 25, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/ivan-toney.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "England's Ivan Toney pictured during the warm-up on June 25, 2024 [IMAGO]")
© Imago
Luiz should be among the starters for Estrela on Tuesday, with the summer arrival expected to operate in the final third of the field, potentially alongside Alan Ruiz.
Estrela head coach Vieira could potentially name different XIs for each half of the contest, but there is likely to be a starting role for 23-year-old attacker Nilton.
Brentford will again be missing summer arrival Thiago due to a meniscus injury, which should again mean starts for Kevin Schade, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo in the final third of the field.
Head coach Frank will once again be looking to make full use of his squad, with a number of youngsters set to be given opportunities to make their mark.
Ben Mee and Nathan Collins are set to be among the starters for the Premier League outfit, but Toney will again be unavailable due to his involvement for England at Euro 2024.
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Meixedo; Veiga, Ferro, Drame, Lima; Cordeiro, Aloisio, Bucca; Ruiz, Luiz, Nilton
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Henry, Mee, Collins, Hickey; Norgaard, Janelt, Onyeka; Schade, Wissa, Mbeumo
We say: Estrela Amadora 1-2 Brentford
Brentford will be the favourites to claim the victory on Tuesday, but we are expecting a close match between two well-matched sides. The Bees impressed against Benfica last time out and should have enough quality to record a narrow victory here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
