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Brentford rounded off their pre-season campaign with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon. Kevin Schade and Brazil international striker Igor Thiago both netted a brace for the Bees, whilst club-record signing Mamadou Sangare, Dango Ouattara and Keane Lewis-Potter were also on the scoresheet. The friendly, played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, was Keith Andrews’ side’s final game before their Premier League opener at home to Tottenham Hotspur at 17:30 this coming Saturday. Here are four things we learnt from Brentford’s final test of pre-season… Keith Andrews' preferred XI Whilst pre-season often features a range of different lineups used by a head coach in order to maximise fitness and experiment tactically, Saturday afternoon’s starting eleven felt very much like a trial run of the team Keith Andrews plans to play against Tottenham Hotspur. As there always is with football fans, there would be debates to be had about whether or not the lineup fielded against Frankfurt is ultimately the strongest possible side Brentford have available. Even so, it feels very likely that Brentford will be unchanged for their opening game after a near flawless performance. Key selections that could potentially have been questioned will now feel justified to Keith Andrews. The selection of Mathias Jensen in the attacking midfield role, for example, came at the expense of Brentford’s 2024/25 Player of the Year Mikkel Damsgaard – a fan favourite who many fans would perhaps have wanted to see start. Yet it was a beautiful pass from Jensen into Thiago that set up Brentford’s sixth goal, and ultimately highlighted the quality the midfielder still possesses as he heads into his eighth season with the club. In addition, Keane Lewis-Potter, a natural winger, was preferred at left back over specialist fullbacks Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey. Lewis-Potter proved perfectly suited to Andrews’ desire for his full backs to push high and wide in attack, overlapping the wingers and helping create an overload on many occasions. That proved incredibly troublesome to a Frankfurt defence that leaked a staggering seven goals in 70 minutes, one of which to Lewis-Potter himself, who, after finding himself in a wide right area, cut back onto his weaker left foot before delivering an excellent finish into the far left corner. With a clean sheet at the back, a strong, balanced midfield display, and a ruthless, free-flowing attack all on show, it would seem only injuries could force Keith Andrews into a change to his starting eleven between now and Saturday evening. Damien Duff's attacking influence Over the course of a summer, it is usually the signing of players that captures the attention of fans. However, it is a recruit in the coaching department that could prove very beneficial to Brentford’s ambitions this season, particularly going forward. Former Republic of Ireland international winger Damien Duff was appointed as an assistant coach to Keith Andrews in June. Duff, known particularly for his speed and dribbling ability, spent the majority of his playing career playing in the Premier League, featuring for Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Fulham, whilst also registering 100 caps for his country. Prior to joining Brentford, the Irishman spent four seasons as manager of League of Ireland Premier Division side Shelbourne, where, in 2024, he guided the team to a first league title since 2006. A talented coach and a well-respected ex-player, Duff is expected to prove a valuable addition to Brentford’s coaching setup, and it is in attacking areas, where Duff operated in his playing career, that Brentford have looked so exciting in pre-season. After a 4-2 win over Stade Rennais last weekend, the 7-0 win over Frankfurt made it 11 goals in Brentford’s last two games. Wingers Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade both looked full of confidence as they tore Frankfurt’s defence apart. Schade, who on some occasions last season appeared lacking in confidence and self-belief, delivered a sensational man-of-the-match performance with two goals and two assists, whilst Ouattara built on a goal and assist in Rennes last week with another goal against Frankfurt. Brentford already know main man Igor Thiago is capable of delivering a high scoring season, having registered 25 goals in all competitions last term, however, adding more goals from out wide is something that could well be the difference maker if Brentford are to qualify for Europe this season. Duff is a former teammate of Keith Andrews for the Republic of Ireland national team, and fans will be hoping that the reunion of the two as coaches can prove key to unlocking the full potential of Brentford’s attacking talent this season. Sangare's immediate impact After joining for a club-record fee from RC Lens two weeks ago, the sight of Mamadou Sangare in Brentford colours has been one a lot of Brentford fans have been excited to see. The midfielder, who first appeared for the Bees in Rennes last weekend, marked his first appearance at the Gtech Community Stadium with a superb half volley from the edge of the box to put Brentford 2-0 up inside 15 minutes. In the past, Brentford have often been careful when it comes to easing new signings in, especially from abroad, with many given time to settle in and adapt before getting significant minutes. Sangare, however, has started against both Stade Rennais and Frankfurt, impressing in both pre-season games, and now looks all but certain to start Brentford’s Premier League opener. Named in the 2025/26 Ligue 1 Team of the Season, Sangare represented a huge coup for Brentford, with the club-record fee paid representative of the significance of the signing for Keith Andrews’ side. Brought in for a position Brentford have been very eager to strengthen, Sangare, whilst only 24 years of age, is a player truly capable of improving Brentford’s levels immediately. Paired alongside Vitaly Janelt, a key player when fit for Brentford last season, in a pivot behind Mathias Jensen, Sangare has in pre-season formed part of a balanced midfield trio, comfortable winning the ball, retaining it, and creating opportunities in attack. Although Brentford’s pre-season opponents have not yet seen the Mali international midfielder tested against Premier League opposition, the early signs suggest Mamadou Sangare is a player well and truly ready for the Premier League, and one who will relish the challenge of a potential midfield battle against the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali come Saturday evening. Strength in depth The starting eleven that delivered a seven-goal rout is rightly the main source of conversation from Brentford’s final pre-season friendly. Despite this, the substitutions Brentford made, the substitutes not used, and the array of talent not even present in the matchday squad all illustrated significant strength in depth. In the run-in last season, Brentford were left to rue a lack of squad depth as they fell agonisingly short of qualifying for Europe. Injuries within the squad saw Brentford reach a point where Andrews went a full game without making a single substitution in the 0-0 draw with Fulham in April, something very reflective of the lack of options Brentford had available to them from the bench. Now Brentford have a squad that feels well stocked, and prepared for any injuries that may hit. Andrews made seven substitutions in the second half against Frankfurt, as Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Ethan Pinnock, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Mikkel Damsgaard along with new signings Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson entered the fray. In spite of this, Brentford still had summer signing Jannik Schuster and Gustavo Nunes as unused substitutes, whilst Kaye Furo, Yunus Konak, Fabio Carvalho, Jayden Meghoma, Josh Dasilva and Kim Ji-Soo missed out on places in the matchday squad entirely. In addition, Sepp Van den Berg, Antoni Milambo and Benjamin Fredrick will all add to the options at Andrews’ disposal once returned from their respective injuries. Although it can be expected a few of those options will head out on loan prior to the closure of the transfer window in search of greater minutes, Brentford’s squad depth is as strong as it has ever been at this level, setting the club up well for a promising season in both the Premier League and the domestic cup competitions.