Gil Vicente Set to Host Brentford
Brentford will kick off their 2025–26 pre‑season campaign with a friendly away to Gil Vicente at the Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, with kickoff set for 18:30 UTC on Friday, July 25.
Kick-Off and Who’s in Charge
This will be the first game under interim head coach Keith Andrews, who stepped up to guide the side through their pre‑season. The match could also mark the club debuts of new signings like Caoimhín Kelleher, Antoni Milambo, and Jordan Henderson.
Gil Vicente: Style of Play & Key Figures
Portuguese side Gil Vicente, led by manager César Peixoto, finished 13th in the Primeira Liga last season. They earned praise for a possession-oriented, methodical playing approach—only six teams in Portugal held the ball more often last term.
Defensively, they performed well at home, conceding just 19 goals. However, their attacking output was limited, they scored only 34 league goals, with five sides managing fewer. Winger Félix Correia, their top scorer (nine goals), departed to Lille, while creative midfielder Kanya Fujimoto (five assists) has joined Birmingham City.
One player to watch is 20-year-old midfielder Mohamed Bamba, signed from Reims in February. A tall, physical presence in central midfield, he adapted quickly in Portugal and impressed across 12 league appearances.
Tactical Preview
Gil Vicente typically line up in a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation, playing with slow, patient build-up—more controlled in possession than nearly any other team in the league. Brentford’s deeper sides and accurate passing will test their structure.
Brentford, meanwhile, often lure opponents into speculative long-range efforts. The friendly will likely reveal whether Gil Vicente can resist that pressure and create high-quality openings—or fall back to low-percentage shots from distance.
Previous Encounters
This fixture marks only the second meeting between the clubs. Their first encounter came in a behind-closed-doors friendly in March 2025, won 1‑0 by a Brentford XI. Romelle Donovan, who has since signed permanently with Brentford, scored the solitary goal with a top-corner strike on the half-hour mark.
Summary
Event: Brentford vs Gil Vicente (Pre‑season friendly)
When: Friday, July 25, 2025 at 18:30 UTC
Venue: Estádio Cidade de Barcelos
Brentford: Managed by Keith Andrews; potential debuts for Kelleher, Milambo, Henderson
Gil Vicente: Under César Peixoto; possession-focused, defensively solid, striker and creator departed.