Both teams are dealing with life without their biggest goal threats of recent seasons, with Brentford having sold Ivan Toney and Bournemouth losing Dominic Solanke.
However, Brentford have had little trouble replacing Toney’s goals.
Coming into Saturday’s game, only three teams had scored more in the Premier League than the Bees (17), with both Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa among the league’s top scorers.
Brentford appear to have undergone a tactical evolution since Toney’s departure, with manager Thomas Frank adding more style to his side’s substance, but their first equaliser was more scrappy than stylish.
After a sluggish start, Vitaly Janelt had tested Kepa Arrizabalaga with a strike from just inside the box, before the Bees won a throw-in down the right.
Mathias Jensen’s delivery was flicked on twice before Wissa managed to steer it back across goal and inside the far post, with a VAR check ruling there had not been a Brentford handball.
The Bees again conceded at the start of the second half but hit straight back, with Mbeumo slipping a pass into the box for Damsgaard to squeeze a low shot past Kepa at his near post.
With Brentford now buoyant, they began to produce more of the fluid football Frank has challenged them to play, and Janelt’s through-ball allowed Wissa to dink the ball over Kepa.
Mbeumo then blazed over from Janelt’s cut-back while captain Christian Norgaard had a deflected shot saved. The visitors threw caution to the wind at the death, but Brentford hung on.
More to follow.
Morocco
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