Preview:Nottingham Forest vs Brentford - prediction, team news, lineups

After an eventful summer break, two top-10 finishers in last season's Premier League will clash on Sunday, as Nottingham Forest welcome Brentford to the City Ground.

While Forest were controversially upgraded to the Europa League, the Bees have been picked apart by other clubs higher up the food chain; now, they can both get back to business.

Match preview

Though they enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, booking a long-awaited return to Europe by finishing seventh, Nottingham Forest had a tinge of regret regarding their Champions League near-miss last term.

Still, having built on finally regaining their Premier League place in 2022, Forest can try to compete on several fronts this season.

Nuno Espirito Santo has, so far, hung onto most of his key players and, due to Crystal Palace's misfortune, the Tricky Trees are eyeing up a deep run in the Europa League.

Primarily, though, Forest will want to consolidate their new status as top-six contenders, starting with making the City Ground a fortress once again.

Nuno's men took just one point from their last four home games in 2024-25 - having lost only two and won nine of the first 15 - so they are seeking a return to form on Sunday.

It has not been plain sailing in pre-season, as the Midlands club barely scored a goal and failed to win a single match, finishing up with consecutive 0-0 draws last week.

Unbeaten in all five of his Premier League openers to date, Nuno insists that such matters will be forgotten this weekend, despite Forest also failing to win their first fixture in any of the last seven seasons.

While they were beaten 2-0 in London last term, Brentford have lost just two of their last 10 league visits to the City Ground, winning on six occasions.

Furthermore, the Bees have yet to lose their opening Premier League game since reaching England's top tier in 2021, scoring twice each time.

This year, though, they will enter uncharted waters, after Thomas Frank's successful seven-year stay at the club reached its end and rookie coach Keith Andrews was appointed his successor.

The Irishman has a tough act to follow, as Brentford finished 10th in May, with 56 points - their second-best total in the top flight - and came close to contending for an unprecedented place in Europe.

The Bees scored 66 times in the process - the Premier League's fifth-best return - having experienced a particularly strange season away from home: they failed to win any of nine games on the road until January, but in 2025 they have tallied more away wins and points than anyone else.

Now, after losing their boss, captain and other key players, Andrews must try to get Brentford firing again, starting with a tough trip to Nottingham.

Nottingham Forest pre-season form: D L D L D D

Brentford pre-season form: D W D

Team News

Nottingham Forest may have lost Anthony Elanga, but Morgan Gibbs-White remains, while Ipswich Town star Omari Hutchinson and Manchester City's James McAtee are on their way.

Furthermore, Swiss winger Dan Ndoye - who scored the winning goal in May's Coppa Italia final - is expected to start on Sunday, supporting either last term's top scorer Chris Wood or another new boy, Brazil striker Igor Jesus.

Nuno will be unable to call upon midfielder Nicolas Dominguez, who is sidelined with a knee injury, but no other fitness issues have been reported.

Meanwhile, Vitaly Janelt will miss out for Brentford, while Kevin Schade and new goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher are both doubts.

Bryan Mbeumo has already left and Yoane Wissa will not play because of his desire to leave, but Igor Thiago is keen to make an impact after missing much of last season through injury.

Fabio Carvalho is also in contention, having scored in last week's friendly draw with Borussia Monchenglabach, and the Bees have just agreed a club record deal for Bournemouth forward Dango Ouattara.

In midfield, Jordan Henderson should make his debut as the replacement for former captain Christian Norgaard; 20-year-old Antoni Milambo could make his first competitive appearance since signing from Feyenoord.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Sels; Cunha, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Brentford possible starting lineup: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Jensen, Henderson; Carvalho, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Thiago