With the two sides level on points before the start of the game, Brentford vs Sunderland was always going to be a finely poised fixture.
A game between two early-season relegation contenders, both sides have proved critics wrong as they chase a place in the top six and European football.
Brentford’s home form, with 21 points from 10 home games, made them favourites ahead of this game. However, with Sunderland having lost only four Premier League games this season, this match was expected to be a war between two brilliant sides.
Brentford vs Sunderland 3-0: Bees’ European Football Charge Continues As Igor Thiago Brace Downs Black Cats
The Bees started positively, as inside the first minute, Kevin Schade looked to dink the ball over Kevin Roefs, but the Sunderland shot-stopper was able to tip it over the bar.
Sunderland’s first chance came from a free-kick as captain Granit Xhaka fired a low shot under the Brentford wall; however, the tame effort was easily saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Hat-trick hero from the last match, Igor Thiago, had two brilliant opportunities to break the deadlock, but the Brazilian was unable to test the goalkeeper.
With that being said, Brentford’s number nine managed to put his side 1-0 up after half an hour.
Vitaly Janelt’s fine through ball was seized on by Thiago as he rounded Roefs and slotted the ball into an empty net.
The Black Cats looked to respond after going down as Xhaka and Bryan Brobbey both had chances, but both were blocked by the Brentford defensive wall.
With the last chance of the half, Keane Lewis-Potter fired a free-kick towards Roefs’ goal; however, the crossbar denied the Brentford winger.
Sunderland came out fighting and had their chance moments later as the ball fell to Enzo Le Fee, but the midfielder failed to direct his shot on target.
Just before the hour mark, the Black Cats were given a lifeline as Brobbey was fouled in the box by Kristoffer Ajer with referee Matthew Donohue pointing to the spot.
What followed was simply bizarre. Le Fee stepped up to take the penalty, but instead of smashing the ball home, the midfielder chipped the ball down the middle and straight into the hands of Kelleher.
To make matters worse for Sunderland, Brentford doubled their advantage. The Bees broke forward as Thiago slid through Schade, whose effort smashed against the bar.
The hosts kept the ball alive as Mathias Jensen crossed the ball into the box. Schade headed it across goal into Thiago, who nodded it into the bottom corner for his second goal of the game.
Brentford sealed the points with 15 minutes to go as Jensen’s corner found Yegor Yarmolyuk, who smashed the ball home for his first goal for the club.
Brentford On Fire As Igor Thiago Brace Lifts Bees Within Touching Distance Of Top Four
With four wins from five games, Igor Thiago chasing the Premier League Golden Boot and the club moving into the Premier League top six, the Christmas period has been a blessing rather than a hindrance for Brentford.
Another Igor Thiago brace to add to the long catalogue of goals this season, the Brazilian forward is only four goals away from Erling Haaland in the race for the Premier League top goalscorer award.
Having one of the best seasons of his career, the forward will have one eye on the summer and the World Cup, as surely, a Brazil call-up seems inevitable.
In the process, Thiago, with 17 games left to go this season, has scored the most goals in a single season for a Brazilian, beating Matheus Cunha, Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Martinelli’s records.
After losing manager Thomas Frank and forwards Bryan Mbuemo and Yoanne Wissa, many had Brentford as relegation contenders and they weren’t too far off that as they sat 17th in September.
Keith Andrews and co took those words and threw them back at their critics as they are now amongst the Premier League top six after fending off a fellow European football challenger in Sunderland.
As much as Thiago has been a complete revelation for Brentford, Schade has also managed to chip in with goals and assists as the Bees have scored the most Premier League goals over the festive period and are one of the in-form sides in the division.
With Andrews’ side firmly in the Premier League top six and only a point off the top four, can the Bees start slowly believing of European football at the Gtech Community Stadium?
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Arsenal vs Liverpool: Three Key Factors To Consider, Predicted Lineups, Team News
Poor Away Form Continues To Haunt Sunderland
Experiencing their joint-heaviest Premier League defeat, their 3-0 defeat to Brentford continues to highlight the Black Cats’ problems away from home.
At home, Sunderland have shut out sides like Arsenal and Manchester City and have also gained victories like the derby day delight against Newcastle.
Regis Le Bris’s side never really looked comfortable in the game, but had chances to score, none more than Le Fee’s penalty that he awfully failed to convert.
If that penalty had gone in, the game would have been level and the complexity of the game could have flipped on its head.
Instead, Sunderland players dropped their heads, the defensive shape went out the window as Brentford found gaps, exploited them and strove further towards European football.
As the Black Cats dropped to 10th, their start to the Premier League season since promotion back into the top flight has been nothing short of fantastic.
When you compare them to the other two promoted clubs from the Championship last season, they are in a fantastic place and are still in the Premier League top six hunt, being only two points off fierce rivals Newcastle, who occupy sixth place.
With a good run of games after FA Cup action, Sunderland can very easily get back on track and return to winning ways to re-establish their European football hopes in their first season back in the top-flight since 2016/17.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Focus Images
Recording Date: 07.01.2026
