Manchester City-Brentford Preview

Thomas Frank believes "anything is possible" on the final day of the Premier League season, when Brentford could secure Europa Conference League football by upsetting champions Manchester City.

Brentford cannot finish their successful second campaign in the Premier League any lower than ninth, and they still harbour an outside chance of European qualification.

A final-day win for the Bees - coupled with Aston Villa and Tottenham dropping points elsewhere - would see them finish seventh, and though his team face a mammoth task, Frank still has hope.

"I'm a big dreamer, I'm a big believer. I believe that everything is possible football in football," Frank said.

"Every season is a new opportunity to achieve something big. I had a big belief that we would get top 10 this season, a big belief.

"I am so pleased that we are in the mix and have a chance - we now just need to beat the best team in the world!

"It's a massive, massive mountain ahead of us. But, at home, with this group of players, I think anything is possible."

City have taken four points from two games since sealing their fifth Premier League title under Pep Guardiola, who is determined to finish the season on a high.

With FA Cup and Champions League finals to come, Guardiola wants treble-chasing City to maintain their rhythm.

"I'm going to play the game as real as possible, to see how they feel in terms of condition," he said.

"We'll take a team to win the game. It is meaningless in terms of points, but the way we played against Brighton, it doesn't mean that.

"Brighton helped us maintain our levels and hopefully it's great for us, as it helps us maintain the rhythm.

"The Brentford game will be different, the way both teams play. It will sustain the demanding effort."

Brentford - Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo has been involved in six goals in his last six Premier League games (four goals, two assists), leading the line ably in the absence of the suspended Ivan Toney. The Cameroon international is looking to score in three consecutive league games for Brentford for the first time since December 2019 (a run of four).

Manchester City - Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne has been involved in nine goals in his last six final-day appearances in the Premier League, scoring three and assisting six. Overall, only Nolberto Solano (seven) has recorded more assists on the final day in Premier League history than the Belgian playmaker.

Following their 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium in November, Brentford are looking to complete just their second league double over City. They previously did so in the 1937-38 season, but this is just the third campaign in which the teams have met since then.

City, however, have an excellent record in the capital. They have won five of their six Premier League away games against London teams this term, only losing at Tottenham. Only Liverpool (in 1988-89) have previously won six away games in London in a single English league campaign.

City have won their final league game in eight of the last nine seasons, including each of the last six in a row. Their last final-day defeat came at home to Norwich City in 2013 (2-3).

Brentford - 18.2%

Manchester City - 57.4%

Draw - 24.4%

Updated May 27, 2023