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By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER and GETHIN HICKS, TRAINEE REPORTER Updated: 06: 01 AEST, 14 September 2025 32 View comments Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Chelsea take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League, with Kieran Gill reporting from the grounds. Chelsea boast a very talented bench this evening and, amid the struggles of Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto in that first-half, it can't be long before Enzo Maresca makes changes. Cole Palmer, Alejandro Garnacho and Reece James all watched on from the subs bench that half - no-doubt expecting to be called on sooner rather than later. A Garnacho debut is surely in the offing! The referee's blown his whistle for half-time after a fairly uneventful 45 minutes, apart from the goal. Chelsea go into the break behind after a poor first half in west London. Just one of the eight top flight clashes between Brentford and Chelsea has been won by the home side - but if the Blues don't up their game that's about to change. Enzo Fernandez swings in (miscues) a corner which crashes into the near post before rebounding dangerously towards the penalty spot, but it's cleared away by the home side. It's as close as the Blues have come, right on the cusp of half-time. Maresca will no-doubt be preparing a stern half-time talk for his side. Palmer with the same expression many Blues across London will no-doubt be pulling in their living rooms. It's been a pretty disappointing first-half for Maresca's side after such a promising start to the season. I think we all know what the Mancunian's thinking, 'get me on at half-time! ' Let's be honest, it had been a pretty dull 30 minutes up until the goal. But Schade's strike woke up the crowd in west London for this evening's derby - it's a Saturday night after all! The Brentford fans certainly enjoyed it - and so did the German forward. It's not been the greatest game up to this point, but Kevin Schade has just shown the first bit of quality yet! The Brentford striker burst behind the Blues defence, cut inside and, thanks to a deflection, left Robert Sanchez helpless! By Ben Willcocks Jorrel Hato picks up his second yellow card of the season with a late challenge inside the Chelsea half. By Ben Willcocks It's clear to see how much Chelsea are missing a centre forward here. Joao Pedro, as superb as he's been so far this season, is most comfortable dropping inside and finding pockets in the midfield. And it's the same here, he's getting deeper and deeper the longer this game goes on. With Liam Delap - or dare I say Nicolas Jackson - they always had a centre forward stretching the pitch and occupying the centre-halves, and that only benefitted the midfielders behind them. Let's see how Maresca solves the puzzle. .. By Ben Willcocks Defend, defend, defend so far as far as Brentford are concerned - but it's clear to see what their gameplan is. Kelleher lumps it long towards Thiago, who brings the ball down and wins a throw-in. You know what that means - a Michael Kayode long throw. He winds up and absolutely trebuchets it into Chelsea's penalty area, causing chaos for a brief moment before they are able to scramble it away. It may not be pretty, but it looks like Brentford best chance of a goal at the moment, especially without Damsgaard's creativity. By Ben Willcocks Chelsea definitely start to tick now. Just over 70% possession in the game so far and they are pinning the Bees back with little in the way of an exit. Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro are linking up nicely, as they have done so far this season, and finds the Brazilian in a pocket of space towards the byline. Pedro tries cutting it back but is stopped in his tracks by Sepp van den Berg, who deals with the danger. By Ben Willcocks Great battle between Jamie Gittens and Michael Kayode on Chelsea's left hand side, and Brentford fans are furious with the referee after the winger falls to deck and wins a free-kick. It was certainly one of those where it was six of one, half a dozen of the other. Tosin almost added insult to injury with a header from the set-piece, but Caomhin Kelleher got his body behind it to make a smart save - and then the offside flag went up anyway. Getting glove on ball early on will have settled the goalkeeper for sure. By Ben Willcocks Thiago picks up the first yellow card of the game by cynically pulling Trevoh Chalobah's shirt inside the Chelsea half. He'll have to be mindful for the remainder of this one - and there's plenty of time to go. By Ben Willcocks HUGE chance for the Bees! Thiago does well with deft touch into Kevin Schade, who finds plenty of room just inside the area and chops inside to take an effort on goal. Tosin manages to get a block in and Chelsea fans would've had hearts in their mouths for a moment, before noticing it sail past the post for a corner. That will certainly give the hosts a boost in confidence. Just as you'd expect in the early moments. Chelsea win the ball in the first minute with relative ease and pass the ball around the back comfortably before playing through the lines to launch an attack. Jamie Gittens collects the ball on the left and attempts to cut inside, but is dealt with easily. By Ben Willcocks The Bees get us underway in west London. By Ben Willcocks Warm-ups are done, the managers have fulfilled their media duties - and the fans are in full voice. We're just moments away from kick-off at the Gtech. Chelsea will look to press from the front early on, especially as Brentford are without key man Mikkel Damsgaard who likes to soak up pressure in midfield. Can they take the sting out of the Bees early? Kick off is next! By Ben Willcocks So what's at stake ahead of Saturday's final match in London? Well, Enzo Maresca and Chelsea will have all eyes firmly on top spot in the Premier League - as a win will climb them ahead of London rivals Arsenal into first place ahead of Liverpool's match tomorrow. It's been a solid start to the season for the Blues, who have only conceded one goal and have watched their marquee summer signing Joao Pedro hit the ground running with a flurry of early season goals. Conversely, Brentford are still trying to find their feet after a tumultous summer, having lost manager Thomas Frank, star men Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa - and captain Christian Norgaard. They sit 17th in the league, ahead of West Ham on goal difference alone, so will be eager to pull off a surprise upset at the Gtech tonight. Who are you siding with? We knew he wasn't going to be fit enough to start, but the question was always could the £40m man Alejandro Garnacho make the bench? The answer is yes, and he's bleached his hair for the occasion. You can't miss him that's for sure! Keith Andrews has named his side for this evening's west London clash! Enzo Maresca has named his side, and there's a few surprise changes! Blues fans and Garnacho waited all summer for the move to be completed, but at last this evening the Argentinian could make his debut. He, and his brother, have certainly had a lot to say in recent months - it's now time to see whether Garnacho can live up to the arrogance which had him bombed out of Old Trafford. Enzo Maresca was coy when asked whether we could see the exciting winger on show this evening, telling reporters: 'The reality is Alejandro needs to work - and he's working well. 'He didn't arrive here fully ready, so there's an adjustment period. Hopefully we can integrate him gradually and offer him some minutes as he builds towards match fitness. ' By Gethin Hicks You've waited all day, Chelsea and Brentford fans, but at last it's time. The Blues travel to the Gtech Stadium for, incredibly, their fourth London derby of the season. They're just the second side in Football League history to begin their season as such. But while the Premier League season hasn't seen Enzo Maresca's men travelling particularly far, that was certainly not the case during the international break. Maresca could be without, at least from the start, Joao Pedro, Estevao and Andrey Santos after they jetted off to Brazil, while Moises Caicedo made the long journey to Ecuador. The gaffer admitted yesterday there's 'question marks' over nearly half his squad with Cole Palmer also a doubt as he recovers from a groin injury. Chelsea's starting XI will therefore be interesting to see, could there be a debut for Alejandro Garnacho, will talesman Palmer return? We'll find out at 7pm. Keith Andrews and Brentford meanwhile come into the derby on the back of a loss to Sunderland and a victory over Aston Villa. Following a dismal opening day at home to Forest, it's not a bad start for a side tipped to go down after the exit of Thomas Frank. Just one of the last eight meetings between the two west London clubs have been won by the home side, which doesn't bode well for Andrews. But it's anyone's game this evening and, with a weakened Chelsea side heading west, the door could be open for Brentford. Follow the action with Daily Mail Sport. Maresca is back with his oddness. 3 CB against Bre. ..

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