Expect Brentford to line up in their usual 3-5-2, with wing-backs providing the width and a double pivot shielding the back three. Keith Andrews has built a side that is compact, physical, and devastating from dead balls. They will look to squeeze the midfield, force Spurs wide, and then hit them on the break or from a set-piece. The 7-0 against Frankfurt was no fluke — this is a team that knows exactly how to punish a high line. Tottenham, under their current setup, are expected to stick with a 4-3-3, with a single pivot and two advanced midfielders looking to knit play together. They will try to dominate possession and work the ball into the half-spaces, but that leaves them vulnerable to Brentford's directness and second-ball aggression.

The key battle will be in the middle of the park. Brentford's double pivot will look to disrupt Spurs' rhythm, while Tottenham's midfield trio will need to be brave and take risks to break the lines. Out wide, Brentford's wing-backs will push high, forcing Spurs' full-backs to choose between staying wide or tucking in — and that space in behind is exactly where the Bees will want to attack. If Tottenham try to play out from the back, Brentford will press them relentlessly, turning turnovers into quick chances. This is a game that could be decided by a single moment of quality or a single lapse in concentration.