Bees v Swans: The most expensive match in football returns to Wembley Stadium

Brentford take on Swansea City in this year’s Championship Playoff Final at Wembley, as they head it off for a place in the top-flight of English football, the Premier League. Winners of the Championship Playoff will get a financial boost of around $230 million. Prize money, next season’s TV money and additional income is like a winning lottery ticket for any club and the chase for it becomes even more dramatic when it’s decided at the national stadium in Wembley. To say that this match is important would be an understatement.

Both teams will walk out in front of 12,000 fans in a match that could decide a lot more than just where the pair of clubs play in August.

North London side Brentford find themselves in the playoff final for the second year in a row, having made it all the way last year only to concede two extra-time goals to Fulham, which saw them fall at the last hurdle.

In fact, Brentford have the worst playoff record in English football having failed to get promoted via the playoffs nine times. They will be hoping this tenth time serves them better.The Bees beat out Bournemouth to get to the final, turning round a 1-0 deficit in a thrilling second-leg, which finished 3-1. They will need the same fighting spirit to overcome a structured Swansea side.

Brentford’s attacking players are key for them, they will need Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbuemo to be up for the game from the first minute and will need Marcus Forss, who scored the winning goal in the second leg, to be ready whether he’s on the bench or not. Captain Pontus Janson must use his playoff experience, including from last year’s final, to guide this team into getting over its hump.

Swansea City make their way back to the playoff final as they look to find a way back to the Premier League the same way they did in 2011. The Swans beat out surprise package Barnsley to get to this year’s final, thanks to two bits of quality from Andre Ayew and Matt Grimes, and they’ll need that again to get past Brentford.

The South Wales side have a lot of former Premier League players in their ranks but will be without winger Wayne Routledge, who got injured in the semi-final and could have played his final game for them.

It’s what their entire year has come to. A place in next season’s Premier League is only 90 or 120 minutes away. One final push is required!

EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

Playoff final

Saturday

17.00: Brentford – Swansea City