Fabio Carvalho struck late in injury time to deny Chelsea victory over Brentford in the west London derby. It was not an undeserved point for Brentford, though, who marshalled the world champions for long stretches of the match and led at the break after Kevin Schade struck on the counter.
Enzo Maresca, displeased with Chelsea’s dour first-half showing, made three half-time changes, introducing Reece James, Marc Cucurella, and Tyrique George after naming a rotated starting XI. Cole Palmer, back from injury, was introduced shortly after, and he was the one to find the equaliser for Chelsea, sweeping home after Joao Pedro knocked down Enzo Fernandez’s cross. Moises Caicedo followed it up with a wonderful strike from the edge of the box, but it did not turn out to be the winner.
A long throw confounded the Chelsea back-line with moments remaining in the match, and Carvalho was there at the back post to tap home and ensure the Bees did not go home empty-handed. Catch up with the action as it happened below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford vs Chelsea latest news
- GOAL! Carvalho nicks a point
- GOAL! Blues in front after Caicedo screamer
- GOAL! Palmer with the equaliser
- GOAL! Schade opens the scoring
- Kick-off
- How to watch
- Starting lineups
FULL TIME: Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
21:54 , Arthur FerridgeThe points are shared after Fabio Carvalho’s late equaliser.
Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
21:53 , Arthur Ferridge90+6mins: Palmer fires over from close range, and that should be that.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Community Stadium
21:52 , Arthur FerridgeIt's a killer for Chelsea, but Brentford will feel a point is what they deserve after this performance.
GOAL! Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
21:50 , Arthur Ferridge90+4mins: Remarkable! Carvalho taps home to equalise in injury time, and you can’t say Brentford don’t deserve it. The long throw reaps rewards again.
Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
21:47 , Arthur Ferridge90+1mins: Six minutes added on.
Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
21:47 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Carvalho is brought on in place of Lewis-Potter as a final roll of the dice for Keith Andrews. Sanchez loudly booed as he restarts the game.
Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
21:46 , Arthur Ferridge89mins: Sanchez catches the ball, and takes a seat with... cramp? Gamesmanship, one suspects.
Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
21:45 , Arthur Ferridge88mins: Yarmoliuk’s long throw bounces awkwardly in front of Sanchez, and he tips it behind for a corner.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
21:44 , Arthur FerridgeMoises Caicedo was lining that up for an age. When it finally came, the shot did not disappoint. Chelsea may have got away with a far below-par performance thanks to brutal strike by Caicedo, who hammered that in.
GOAL! Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
21:42 , Arthur Ferridge85mins: SCREAMER FROM CAICEDO! It is a bungled clearance from Brentford and Caicedo takes full advantage, whipping it into the top left corner, beyond the reach of Kelleher.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:39 , Arthur Ferridge83mins: Hickey and Ajer replace Pinnock and Kayode for Brentford.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:38 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Neto’s cross comes to nothing and goes out for a throw. Pinnock is booked for taking too long with said throw-in.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:38 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: James is brought down by Henderson, and it is another Chelsea free-kick in the final third.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:37 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: Both Chelsea full-backs are inverting now, it seems, as the Blues chase the game.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
21:36 , Arthur FerridgeOn, for his Chelsea debut, comes Alejandro Garnacho. He'd make himself a hero if he could find the winner here.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:35 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: Wonderful run from Rico Henry gets the better of Reece James, but the cross at the end does not do the build-up justice. Dealt with well by Tosin.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:33 , Arthur Ferridge76mins: Henderson sends Ouattara down the right flank, but Cucurella slides in to dispossess him and set up another Brentford corner.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:31 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: How has that stayed out?! Neto blitzes down the right flank and squares to Palmer, but Kelleher gets across brilliantly to deny him.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
21:30 , Arthur FerridgeBrentford are still battling away, but Chelsea will feel they have the impetus and the quality to grab a late winner in this game. All of their last three trips to the Gtech have ended in draws...
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:29 , Arthur Ferridge73mins: Thiago and Jensen are replaced by Henry and Ouattara.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:29 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: George is rushing in to get on the end of Neto’s cross, but Kayode beats him to it to give Chelsea another corner. It leads to another shooting chance for Neto, but he is blocked again. Fernandez gets another go but can’t quite get it on target under heavy pressure.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge70mins: Kayode heaves another throw into the box, but Chelsea just about deal with it.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:26 , Arthur Ferridge70mins: The whistle goes as Brentford line up a long through. Thiago is being penalised for having bundled Neto over. The throw will be retaken.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: A late intervention from Tosin denies Igor Thiago a shooting chance.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:24 , Arthur Ferridge67mins: Neto cuts in and takes a venomous shot, but Pinnock does brilliantly to block him. That comes moments after Sanchez was quick off his line to cut out a Brentford cross.
It is end-to-end stuff at the Gtech, this derby could yet go either way.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:22 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: Palmer feeling his oats after that goal, evidently, and takes an ambitious shot from the free kick. He mashes it into the wall, and does the same with his rebound.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:21 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: A Chelsea free-kick about 30 yards from goal now.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:21 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Yarmoliuk is booked for pulling Palmer down.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
21:20 , Arthur FerridgeWhat a finish, by the way. Palmer's impact is almost instant after coming on, but that's also a seriously impressive strike from the Englishman, who calmly slots home. Then what a stupendous save by Sanchez to keep Chelsea level.
Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:19 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: Sanchez pulls out a remarkable save to deny Schade.
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
21:18 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: Injury? What injury? It had to be him didn’t it. Joao Pedro knocks down Enzo’s cross, and Palmer lashes it home to equalise.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: James shoots from range but it is a congested box and his effort doesn’t make it halfway to the goal.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: Another Neto cross goes untouched. This is a better spell for Chelsea, though.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge59mins: Fernandez does brilliantly to play Neto in behind, but his cross is bundled behind for a corner.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:15 , Arthur Ferridge59mins: Palmer gets his first sight of the ball and is promptly dispossessed by Jordan Henderson.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
21:13 , Arthur FerridgeI think it says a hell of a lot that Palmer is introduced only ten minutes after Chelsea made a triple change. They've been extremely poor since the restart.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:13 , Arthur Ferridge56mins: That change is confirmed. The full complement on for Chelsea now as Palmer comes in to change the game.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:12 , Arthur Ferridge55mins: Gittens wins a corner, but looks set to be withdrawn for Cole Palmer.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge55mins: Pedro finds Gittens with a wonderful through ball. He tees up Cucurella, who doesn’t quite catch his shot correctly. Kelleher saves, but that is much better from Chelsea.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:10 , Arthur Ferridge53mins: Cards stay in the referee’s pocket, on we go.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:09 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Schade is down on the deck holding his head after what appears to be an off-the-ball confrontation with a Chelsea player. His counter-attack was halted prematurely after Caicedo tripped but was deemed to have been fouled.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:08 , Arthur Ferridge51mins: George has a go on the counter and forces a wonderful save from Kelleher.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:07 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Chelsea are fully under the cosh, here, but the defensive reinforcements of James and Cucurella seem to be working.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:06 , Arthur Ferridge49mins: Chelsea clear the corner but Brentford come straight back. Neto is there to intercept the next cross, though.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:05 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Brentford are peachy keen coming out of the changing rooms. They earn a corner after some scrappy defending from the Blues.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
21:04 , Arthur FerridgeNo surprise the cavalry are out. Maresca will be hoping that triple change can alter the course of this match.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:03 , Arthur Ferridge46mins: No excuses anymore for Chelsea, really. A big test for Tyrique George as he slots in at centre-forward and Joao Pedro drops in.
2ND HALF: Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
21:01 , Arthur FerridgeThree changes for the Blues as we get back underway. Marc Cucurella, Reece James, and Tyrique George replace Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, and Facundo Buonanotte.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
20:55 , Arthur FerridgeA rather miserable half for Chelsea comes to an end, their possession plenty but their threat very limited indeed. Brentford doing a job on the Blues at the halfway point.
HALF TIME: Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:47 , Arthur FerridgeA jinking run from Joao Pedro comes to nought. He tries to feed Gittens in the corner, and his ball dribbles miserably out of bounds to end the half. Brentford lead the derby.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge45+1mins: The Fernandez corner rattles the post.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:45 , Arthur Ferridge44mins: Liquid football from Chelsea, there, as Pedro, Caicedo, and Buonanotte combine to tee up Fernandez, whose shot is deflected narrowly wide.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:43 , Arthur Ferridge43mins: Gittens has a go from range, but Kelleher was not overly challenged by it.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:42 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Buonanotte and Fernandez do their best to affect a congested penalty area, but Chelsea are harried away.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:41 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: Chalobah sees his name in lights and looses one from about 25 yards. No dice on that one, Trev.
Sums up Chelsea’s performance in this first half, though, that a speculative long-range effort is preferred to passive final-third passing.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge40mins: As Gittens fails to latch onto another Caicedo through-ball, Garnacho is seen to be warming up for Chelsea.
Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: Sky Sports report that Chelsea’s last touch in the Brentford box came nearly 20 minutes ago.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
20:37 , Arthur FerridgeThe assist on that goal from Jordan Henderson was nothing short of exceptional. It's easily one of the finest assists of the Premier League season so far. And I never thought I'd be saying that about Jordan Henderson in 2025.
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Chelsea | Schade '36
20:35 , Arthur Ferridge34mins: Brentford open the scoring! Henderson plays a stunning long ball to Schade, who places his finish in the bottom corner despite pressure from Fofana and Tosin.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:34 , Arthur Ferridge33mins: This match, frankly, is crying out for the likes of Palmer and Estevao.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:33 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Unclear what chapter of the playbook that one came from, but the Brentford free-kick is hit over the box, and the Bees win a throw on the far side. Kayode opts against taking it long, but still the hosts cannot capitalise on the territory.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:32 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: The Brentford free kick is about 30 yards from the byline, just slightly in from the right touchline.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:31 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: Hato clatters Igor Thiago after a loose first touch, and he is booked for his troubles. A chance awaits for Brentford.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:29 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Joao Pedro is dropping incredibly deep just to have a sight of the ball. This match is yet to see a shot on target.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:26 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Chelsea are sent scrambling as Chalobah loses the ball on halfway. They recover well to prevent a counter, though, and Brentford settle back down. The metronome Henderson is doing a good job of keeping things civil here.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: Long throw klaxon! Back to basics in west London as Kayode launches one into the six-yard box from close to halfway. Chelsea clear their lines.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: Kayode heads a cross-field ball out for a Chelsea throw, but it becomes a Brentford free-kick as the challenging Gittens is deemed to be offside. Kelleher obligingly pumps the ball back into the hosts’ attacking third.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
20:23 , Arthur FerridgeThere's some disgruntlement from the home supporters at how pedestrian Brentford are allowing Chelsea to be in possession. The hosts opting to very rarely press, and the Blues winning the ball back extremely easily after losing it.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:20 , Arthur Ferridge19mins: Chalobah plays a ball into the box from deep, searching for the onrushing Neto, who can’t quite get it under control. Kelleher is on the scene to quell the attack.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:19 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: Lewis-Potter takes his turn to cut in and have a crack at the Chelsea goal, but Sanchez, again, is equal to it.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: The free-kick goes short, and when a cross is eventually lobbed into the box, it is tamely headed into the hands of Kelleher by Chalobah.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:15 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: As our Dom Smith reports, Neto cuts in off the right flank and wins a foul from Lewis-Potter. Another dangerous set piece awaits for the Blues.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
20:14 , Arthur FerridgeYou've to say that's excellent wing play from Neto, first of all to control the long hoicked ball, and then to cut inside and buy the foul. Chelsea just upping the tempo here.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:14 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: Neto crosses to Tosin from the dead ball. The big centre-back heads at goal and draws a good save from Kelleher before the flag goes up for offside.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:13 , Arthur Ferridge12mins: Gittens wins a free kick for Chelsea on the left flank, about 30 yards from goal. It seems a soft foul, but it will be a chance for the Blues.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:12 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: Fofana looks well off the pace as he makes a Premier League start for the first time in a little while. He misses an aerial to allow Brentford a run at the Chelsea defence, which ultimately comes to nothing.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:11 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: Gittens gets on the ball and drives at the byline, but is dispossessed rather easily by Kayode, who he then fouls in an attempt to win the ball back.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:09 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Brentford seem pretty nonplussed by the presence of the world champions. They are pressing high and taking the fight to their visitors.
Thiago goes into the book for pulling Chalobah’s shirt.
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
20:07 , Arthur FerridgeAn early half-chance for Joao Pedro, but Nathan Collins with a nice block to save Brentford. At the other end, a superb Tosin block to deny Schade. Game has started with an oomph about it.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:07 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: Chance for Chelsea! The Blues win the ball high up the pitch and Buonanotte finds Joao Pedro in the area, but his shot is blocked by Van den Berg.
Brentford race back down the other end, and Schade sees a shot blocked.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:05 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Thiago gets down the left and puts a cross into the Chelsea box, but Sanches collects routinely.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: A miscommunication between Buonanotte and Chalobah, who is very high up the left flank, and Brentford win a goal kick.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:03 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: A rather placid start to what, admittedly, is not a particularly venomous derby. Chelsea settling into their shapes and knocking the ball around the back four.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge1mins: Kayode carries it straight into the corner from kick-off, and Henderson sticks it in the mixer. Fofana, lining up at right back, deals with it.
KICK-OFF! Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
20:00 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea’s second west London derby in as many weeks is underway!
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
19:58 , Arthur FerridgeI can confirm that Estevao's absence is indeed due to illness.
Here come the players
19:57 , Arthur FerridgeThe squads are out, the Premier League anthem blares. There’s even a display in the stands!
Kick-off, imminent!
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
19:54 , Arthur FerridgeA chill has come over the Gtech as we approach kick-off here. An 8pm kick-off on a Saturday is, I feel, a 'game's gone' moment, but here we are. It's given Chelsea more rest time after a busy international break for some players, so they may well not complain. Can they make it pay?
Nearly time for kick-off
19:50 , Arthur FerridgeThe second London derby of the day will be underway in just ten minutes!
Reminder of the starting XIs
19:45 , Arthur FerridgeWith a quarter of an hour to go until kick-off, here’s a reminder of tonight’s starting lineups.
Brentford starting XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter, Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Schade, Thiago
Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Chalobah, Tosin, Hato; Caicedo, Enzo, Buonanotte; Neto, Pedro, Gittens
A bogey ground for Chelsea?
19:40 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea have come away with a draw the last three times they have visited the Gtech Stadium.
It was goalless last time out, back in April, but that match was preceded by a four-goal thriller which ended all square.
Before that, though, the 2022 edition of this west London derby also ended goalless.
How many goals will we see tonight?
What does this match mean for either side?
19:37 , Arthur FerridgeA win today would send Chelsea top of the Premier League for the night. It would leave them on ten points, one clear of Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Bournemouth.
Liverpool, though, are yet to play this weekend, and would retake top spot if they beat newly promoted Burnley at Turf Moor tomorrow.
For Brentford, a win would mean leapfrogging most of the very congested bottom half of the table to move from 17th as high as eighth, goal difference dependent.
A draw would leave Chelsea fifth, but could send the Bees as high as 12th.
Dom Smith previews Brentford vs Chelsea
19:33 , Arthur FerridgeDom Smith brings you all you need to know about this match, live and direct from the Gtech Stadium press box!
🤔 "A very intriguing starting lineup from Enzo Maresca."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) September 13, 2025
🗣️ @MrDomSmith with everything you need to know ahead of the west London derby...
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/zIiJg81cd3#BRECHE pic.twitter.com/oQbtyPbfbU
Estevao misses out for Chelsea
19:27 , Arthur FerridgeEstevao has made a very fast start to life in west London but is not in the squad this evening.
He was on international duty with Brazil this week, playing as recently as Wednesday.
Today, though, the Daily Mail report that he misses out due to illness.
Around the grounds
19:24 , Arthur FerridgeIt is full-time at the London Stadium, where Tottenham have beaten West Ham 3-0.
Here are all the other Premier League results from earlier today:
Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 1-0 Wolves
Bournemouth 2-1 Brighton
Derby day souvenirs
19:22 , Arthur FerridgeHalf-and-half scarves may have been banned at the London Stadium for West Ham’s derby meeting with Tottenham today, but there was no such decree at the Gtech...
A big day for Jamie Gittens?
19:13 , Arthur FerridgeJamie Gittens gets the nod on the left-wing today, and he needs a big performance.
He has been uninspiring in his few Chelsea appearances to date, and, while it is still very early in his career with the club, he now has the added pressure of Alejandro Garnacho’s presence.
The Argentine, signed from Man United late in the transfer window, is on the bench today, and may well make a debut today.
The pair will likely be sharing the left-wing role this season. Who will put their stamp on it today?
Dom Smith at the Gtech Stadium
19:04 , Arthur FerridgeA very intriguing starting line-up named by Enzo Maresca, but one which shows the challenges of getting into the rhythm of things immediately after the international break. How Buonanotte gets on in this debut, in the position Palmer would usually occupy, will be fascinating.
What to know about Chelsea
18:56 , Arthur FerridgeThe headline tonight, of course, is that Cole Palmer is on the bench, but what of the other 19 players in the matchday squad?
It is a rotated side after the international break. Reece James is rested from the off, as is Marc Cucurella, who joins him on the bench.
Facundo Buonanotte, on loan from Brighton, will make his debut in the No10 role, while Alejandro Garnacho could debut off the bench.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez both start in midfield, with a strong front three of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Pedro Neto up ahead.
BRENTFORD CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
18:48 , Arthur FerridgeHere’s how the hosts line up.
Brentford starting XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter, Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Schade, Thiago
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Henry, Nelson, Carvalho, Onyeka, Ajer, Janelt
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