Tottenham Hotspur travel to Brentford on Saturday evening for Roberto De Zerbi’s first competitive match in full charge of a Premier League campaign, following a summer of significant investment.
De Zerbi arrived in March, steadying a club that had gone through three head coaches during a torrid 2025-26 season and finished 17th for the second year running. He has since spent roughly £237m rebuilding the squad, breaking the club’s transfer record twice within days in the process.
Tottenham Hotspur team newsMicky van de Ven is a significant absentee, having failed to play a single minute of pre-season since returning from the World Cup, with De Zerbi confirming his unavailability at Friday’s press conference. Xavi Simons remains out with an ACL injury, while Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski are both sidelined with knee problems and Mohammed Kudus is out with a thigh issue.
Pedro Porro is back at the club’s training base after a lengthy World Cup campaign with Spain but is being given further time to recover fully. Pape Sarr will also not be involved, and Destiny Udogie is managing his own fitness concerns.
Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, both summer signings, are set to make their competitive debuts in central defence alongside fellow new arrival Andrew Robertson at left-back. With Porro not yet ready, Archie Gray is expected to fill in at right-back. Sandro Tonali, signed for a club-record £100m from Newcastle, anchors midfield alongside Mateus Fernandes, whose own £85m move broke the same record days earlier.
Mikey Moore, Conor Gallagher and Mathys Tel have all impressed in pre-season and are expected to support Richarlison, who leads the line. James Maddison’s readiness for a starting role remains uncertain given conflicting reports on his fitness following a lengthy spell out. Antonín Kinský continues in goal.
Tottenham Hotspur predicted lineupTottenham Hotspur possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Tonali, Fernandes; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison
When will the match kick off?The Premier League match kicks off at 17:30 BST on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
How to watch Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur?The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
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