On Saturday night, Brentford and Aston Villa, who are positioned on each side of the top half of the Premier League standings, square off at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Lions advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 thumping of Club Brugge in midweek, while the Bees have had more than a week to digest a 1-1 home draw with a revitalized Everton.
The Bees were formerly excellent at home and terrible away, but Thomas Frank's team has since seen its Gtech skills decline as they thrive on opponent territory. Forget the game of two halves cliché; Brentford is going through the season of two halves.
In fact, the Lions have enjoyed two notable successes in knockout competitions recently. They comfortably advanced to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a win over Cardiff City, bouncing back from a 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, where they have managed just one victory in their last seven matches.
Despite their inconsistent form, the Lions currently sit in 10th place in the league standings, with only five points separating them from fourth-placed Manchester City. However, their struggles away from home could hinder their efforts to close the gap. The heavy loss to Palace marked their seventh defeat in their last nine Premier League away games. On a brighter note, they secured a 3-1 victory over Brentford at home in December and are now aiming to achieve their first league double over the Bees since the 1946-47 season.
Aston Villa has scored and given up more goals than any other club in 20 Premier League games this season, so despite Brentford's strong and weak performance in both boxes, the neutrals should buckle up for an exciting show on Saturday night.
This pattern persisted on Tuesday night's Champions League round of 16, as Unai Emery's team fully deserved their title as favorites after defeating Club Brugge 3-1 on the road, ensuring their place in the quarterfinals.
Aston Villa has scored and given up more goals than any other club in 20 Premier League games this season, so despite Brentford's strong and weak performance in both boxes, the neutrals should buckle up for an exciting show on Saturday night.
This pattern persisted on Tuesday night's Champions League round of 16, as Unai Emery's team fully deserved their title as favorites after defeating Club Brugge 3-1 on the road, ensuring their place in the quarterfinals.
