Brentford played their first goalless draw of the season, while Leicester City have gone through a managerial change, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup. The home advantage may not be as decisive as usual.
Brentford managed a stalemate at Goodison Park against Everton, a rarity for them as well. Did they lack opportunities? Not quite; the visitors had their chances, mainly before the break (0.99 xG out of 1.10). Their plans, however, were disrupted by the direct sending off of captain and key midfielder Christian Nørgaard. The Dane will now miss this game and the next two, which will undoubtedly affect their performance quality.
Leicester City's board had held back, but they couldn't overlook three defeats in four Premier League matches and a heavy loss to Manchester United (2:5) in the League Cup's last 16. Perhaps impressed by Manchester United's transformation in their first match without Erik ten Hag, they appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had temporarily taken charge of that Man United, after parting ways with Steve Cooper. The Dutchman has since led Leicester City to another resounding victory over Brentford in the league (3:0). The Thai owners seem hopeful that the former striker can replicate the miracle he achieved at Manchester United with their club.
We're confident Leicester City will avoid defeat. It's not just about the new manager factor; historically, they have been a difficult opponent for Brentford. The Londoners have faced Leicester six times in the last five years, with only one draw and the rest ending in Leicester's favour. Even back in the 1992/93 Championship season, the balance was tilted towards Leicester City (one win and one draw).
