The most important match this football weekend is undoubtedly the final for the much-coveted handle pot, after all, the CL title is the highest of feelings in club football. However, there is a game at Wembley Stadium with even more money at stake than the Champions League. The last Premier League participant in 2021/22 will be determined in the duel Brentford – Swansea.
Promotion to the strongest league in the world results in revenues in the region of 200 million euros. The play-off final in the Championship is therefore the game that offers the biggest bonus.
The Bees from Brentford were already in this final last season, but were defeated by Fulham. They are now aiming for the first Premier League promotion in the club’s history at the second attempt. For Swansea, from Wales, promotion would mean a return. The last time the Swans were in the English top flight was in 2017/18.
In the regular season, Brentford finished third, while Swansea finished the tough Championship in fourth place, seven points behind, after 46 matchdays. According to the current odds, Brentford are the clear favourites against Swansea at the best online bookmakers. Odds of 2.00 are offered on the home side. The match kicks off on Saturday afternoon at 6pm.
Prediction & Live Odds for Brentford vs. Swansea
200 million euros in revenue – promotion to the Premier League is extremely lucrative and accordingly both teams will probably act cautiously. Not many offensive actions are to be expected and the team that scores the first goal will push the door wide open towards the Premier League.
- Brentford show strength in semi-final second leg against Bournemouth
- Both games of the season ended in 1-1 draws
- Swansea have the second best defence in the Championship
The two regular matches in the current season ended in a 1-1 draw, but the betting companies we recommend only offer odds of up to 1.91 on the team from London in the duel between Brentford and Swansea.
Swansea have more experience, but Brentford have a strong collective and especially the “right” players in their own ranks. The chances of the Bees’ fairytale reaching its temporary climax are exceptionally good. Therefore, with 7 out of 10 we bet on on the favourites winning (Brentford to win). ✅
Brentford – Statistics & recent form
A Hollywood director would have needed a great deal of imagination to come up with the story of Matthew Benham. A studied physicist, with a soft spot for numbers, becomes a millionaire thanks to sports betting. Benham wants to apply the power of numbers and statistics to his greatest hobby, too, and first buys a Danish medium-sized company, which he leads to the championship.
Along the way, he also enters the motherland of football and with his revolutionary concept he wants to lead the team from London to success as well.
Numbers do not lie
Benham proves that football can be calculated and planned. At the same time, the Bees do not throw money around. Instead of the “best”, the “right” players are brought in. After missing out on promotion last year, Brentford collected six more points this season.
Nevertheless, the direct promotion spot was missed again after six of the last twelve league games ended in a draw. In the end, they were four points behind Watford FC.
Show of strength in the semi-final against Bournemouth
After twelve league games in a row without defeat, the semi-final first leg against the Cherries of AFC Bournemouth was lost. When Arnaut Danjuma scored after only five minutes in the second leg, the dream of promotion became a distant memory.
However, a quick equaliser and a sending off ensured a turnaround and another final appearance for head coach Thomas Frank, who recently extended his contract until 2023.
Brentford are putting the fear of God into the big clubs and have shown breathtaking development in recent years. The last time the London club was first-class was in 1947, and on Saturday that wait should come to an end. The power of numbers should underpin a successful tip on the Bees at Brentford vs Swansea.
Predicted Brentford line-up:
Raya – Pinnock, Jansson, Dalsgaard – Canos, Jensen, Marcondes, Janelt, Rasmussen – Mbeumo, Toney
Swansea – Statistics & Current Form
Between 2011 and 2018, the English Premier League was home to the Welsh representative, but since 2018/19 Swansea City have only been second-tier. Yet a look at the statistics reveals an interesting picture. The number of goals scored has declined since then, but this also applies to the number of goals conceded.
Second best defence
With just 62 goals scored in 46 league games, head coach Steve Cooper’s side have rarely been convincing offensively. A total of nine teams in the Championship scored more goals than the Swans in 2020/21. On the other hand, the defence was outstanding, as 39 goals conceded meant the second-best defence in the league. Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman kept 20 clean sheets in 45 league games.
Accordingly, games involving Swansea are not necessarily a treat for friends of attacking football. On average, only 2.07 goals were scored per game and just 14 of the 46 league games ended with an over 2.5. Due to the importance of this match, the prediction on the under 2.5 is obvious for Brentford and Swansea. The teams will hardly choose risks, after all, the first mistake could mean missing out on promotion.
Success against Barnsley in the semi-final
In the semi-final, against table neighbours Barnsley (5th), the starting situation was not necessarily in favour of the Welsh. During the season’s finale, Cooper’s eleven presented itself extremely weak and celebrated only two victories in the last ten league games.
Despite this poor form, the away game at Barnsley was won 1-0 thanks to a goal from veteran Andre Ayew. The return leg in Wales ended in a 1-1 draw (after taking the lead) – making the final perfect.
Swansea certainly have far more experience in their own ranks with Ayew, Hourihane, Routledge or Naughton than Brentford. However, former international Routledge had to be substituted injured in the semi-final and is therefore missing in the most important match of the year.
Predicted Swansea line-up:
Woodman – Bidwell, Cabango, Guehi, Naughton – Fulton, Grimes – Lowe, Hourihane, Ayew – Whittaker