Two teams with contrasting starts meet this weekend as Brentford host Bournemouth at the Community Stadium. The Bees have buzzed out of the blocks, while the Cherries are still searching for lift off in the early weeks of their Premier League return.

Midfield will be a fierce battleground where this match could turn. If Brentford control possession, their attacking talents should capitalize.

Brentford vs Bournemouth

The match will take place on Saturday, 2nd September, 2023, at Gtech Community Stadium, in Brentford, West London.

Bees' Sting Fades as Eagles Snatch Shock Equalizer

Brentford looked poised to claim a statement win over Crystal Palace before a late sucker punch saw the Eagles snatch a 1-1 draw. The Bees dominated for long spells and had Palace on the ropes, only for a freakish late goal to deny Thomas Frank's men a deserved three points.

Schade's moment of magic had the Brentford fans jumping for joy like excited kids hyped up on jelly beans and fizzy drinks. Brentford's early dominance was sweeter than a kid let loose in a candy store.

Brentford keeper Mark Flekken was flying between the sticks, pulling off save after save to keep Palace at bay. The fans gave him a standing ovation at one point, figuring he'd done enough to seal the win.

But just as Brentford were getting ready to celebrate, Joachim Andersen's freakish equalizer sucker punched them like a right hook they never saw coming. The Bees had the points snatched away quicker than a kid losing his lollipop.

Andersen's scuffed effort somehow squirmed under Flekken's body to cap a crazy second half scramble in the box. It was about as flukey as finding a winning lottery ticket on the sidewalk, and Brentford were utterly gutted.

After bossing the game, it was a crushing blow for Brentford to see the Eagles grab an undeserved point right at the death. The fans had been getting ready to buzz out 'Hey Jude' in celebration before Andersen's jammy goal silenced the arena.

Brentford were cruising like a luxury yacht for most of the match and looked on easy street. But football can be cruel - the Bees got stung by a smash and grab Palace raid in the dying moments.

There were still positives for Brentford in an assured performance for long spells. Their slick passing had Palace chasing shadows at times in the London derby.

But Brentford's failure to hammer home their dominance and put the game to bed cost them dear. Like a kid gorging on Halloween candy, they were left feeling pretty sick after this huge opportunity went begging.

Cherries Left Feeling Sour After Maddison Magic Sinks Seaside Strugglers

Bournemouth were left tasting defeat yet again as James Maddison's moment of magic earned Tottenham a 2-0 win on the south coast. The Cherries huffed and puffed but couldn't blow Spurs' house down as Maddison's first half strike proved decisive.

Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil had pumped up the pre-match tunes in the home dressing room, hoping to inspire a performance against in-form Spurs. But his players ended up looking flatter than a pancake after Maddison's clinical opener.

The Cherries made a bright start, zipping the ball around with plenty of early juice. But once Maddison stroked home to give Spurs the lead, Bournemouth ran out of ideas quicker than a primary school kid in an exam.

Maddison's sleek finish capped off a silky Spurs move as he drifted ghost-like into space before caressing the ball home. It was a real peach of a goal that left Bournemouth looking more clueless than parents trying to build IKEA furniture.

Despite huffing and puffing, the Cherries didn't manage a single shot on target in the first half. Their final ball was weaker than a damp squib, with top scorer Kieffer Moore left isolated up front.

Spurs could have been out of sight before the break as the Cherries' defense creaked open time after time. But some wayward finishing let Bournemouth off the hook and kept faint hopes of a comeback alive.

But just as the Cherries looked like making a game of it, Dejan Kulusevski stuck the knife in to double Spurs' lead. His calm finish applied the cream on top of the cake for Tottenham.

The Cherries were left looking flatter than a freshly rolled bowling green after managing just one measly shot on target all match. It was another harsh reality check for the Premier League new boys.

O'Neil will be hungry for more guile and creativity from his midfielders after this passive performance lacking in punch and penetration. The absence of injured playmaker David Brooks is really biting into Bournemouth's attacking threat.

The Cherries boss will be desperate to add some new faces before the transfer window slams shut to inject some zest into his side's forward play. Because more lame showings like this will leave Bournemouth stranded in the relegation mire.

For now, it's back to the drawing board for the seaside strugglers after the gulf in class against Spurs was laid bare. The Cherries need to find some new ideas quickly, or this Premier League return could leave a very sour taste.

Predicted Lineups

Brentford Predicted Lineup: Mark Flekken, Rico Henry, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Aaron Hickey, Vitaly Janelt, Christian Nörgaard, Mathias Jensen, Yoane Wissa, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo

Bournemouth Predicted Lineup: Neto, Milos Kerkez, Marcos Senesi, Lloyd Kelly, Max Aarons, Philip Billing, Joe Rothwell, Justin Kluivert, Ryan Christie, David Brooks, Dominic Solanke

Key Battles

• Mathias Jensen vs Philip Billing

In central midfield, the battle between Brentford's Mathias Jensen and Bournemouth's Philip Billing will be crucial.

Both men are intelligent distributors capable of dictating play with their range of passing. But they also provide tenacity in the tackle to break up opposition attacks.

If Billing can disrupt Jensen's rhythm, it will stifle Brentford's creativity. But Jensen is excellent at evading pressure and could drag Billing out of position if not guarded closely.

Winning the middle third will be key, and this midfield duel promises to have a big impact on controlling the tempo.