Tonali struggles as Sangare stars in Brentford’s 3-0 win at Gtech Community Stadium
Brentford defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 at The Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League on 22 August 2026, and BBC Sport published player ratings for both sides following the match.
Brentford’s victory inflicted what the report described as a miserable start to the Premier League season for Roberto de Zerbi’s expensively-rebuilt Tottenham side, and BBC Sport provided assessments from the writer alongside user-rating functionality. Mamadou Sangare, the club-record signing at £39m, received the highest rating for his role in the win, while Spurs’ marquee arrival Sandro Tonali was judged to have had a poor debut.
Brentford’s starting XI drew generally positive marks: Caoimhin Kelleher was rated 6 for being “calm as ever” and making saves when required; Michael Kayode earned a 7, noted for being busy wide and scoring an opportunist goal; Kristoffer Ajer received a 6 for reading the game and composure; Nathan Collins was given a 6 after missing an early headed chance but remaining untroubled; Keane Lewis-Potter was rated 7 for a clinical opening finish and quality on the flanks.
Midfield and attack contributions for Brentford included Vitaly Janelt 7, credited with pouncing for the second goal; Mathias Jensen 7, described as dangerous from set-pieces with a shot that helped set up Janelt’s goal; Dango Ouattara 6, whose prodigious work-rate offset a costly poor touch; Mamadou Sangare 8, commended for winning and using possession and for setting up Lewis-Potter’s opener; Igor Thiago 7, noted for his physical presence but marked down after missing a second-half penalty. Kevin Schade was rated 6 for his linking play.
Brentford’s bench entries and unused substitutes were recorded: Yehor Yarmoliuk (on 67 for Jensen) rated 5 and Jaidon Anthony (on 67 for Ouattara) rated 5; Aaron Hickey (on 76 for Kayode), Mikkel Damsgaard (on 76 for Sangare) and Callum Wilson (on 83 for Thiago) were listed as having come on; subs not used were Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock and Schuster.
Tottenham’s performers drew criticism in the ratings: Antonin Kinsky was given a 5 with the report saying he was at fault when he pushed out Jensen’s shot for Janelt’s goal and that his distribution was wayward. The back line included Archie Gray 5, described as an emergency right-back who struggled; Marcos Senesi 5 and Jan Paul van Hecke 5, both indicated as uncomfortable against Brentford’s physical threat; Andrew Robertson posted a 5 after a tough debut challenged by Brentford’s pace and movement.
Spurs’ midfield and attack ratings reflected a difficult afternoon: Conor Gallagher 4 after taking knocks, producing a wild shot and being booked for a trip on Sangare before being replaced at half-time; Lucas Bergvall 4 for wasteful passing and a poor giveaway that led to Brentford’s second goal; Sandro Tonali 4 for a desperately poor debut despite ironic cheers for one first-half effort; Mikey Moore 6, noted as isolated but at least providing some threat; Richarlison 4 and Mathys Tel 4. Substitutes included Mateus Fernandes (on 45 for Gallagher) 5, Rodrigo Bentancur (on 45 for Bergvall) 5 and accused of giving away a penalty, James Maddison (on 68 for Moore) 5, Dominic Solanke (on 68 for Richarlison) 5 and Destiny Udogie (on 86 for Gray); unused subs were Dubravka, Danso, Davies and Williams-Barnett.
The defeat left Tottenham with a miserable start to the Premier League season, while BBC Sport’s player-rating feature invited users to submit their own scores, with averages displayed after the rater closed.
