Key Takeaways:
- Brentford secured a 3-0 home victory over Sunderland in the 21st round of the Premier League last night
- Igor Thiago scored twice, reaching a record 16 goals for a Brazilian in a single Premier League campaign
- Both clubs will contest FA Cup matches on 10 January, with Brentford facing Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland playing Everton
Match Analysis
Brentford delivered another impressive performance in their Premier League campaign by defeating newly-promoted Sunderland 3-0 at home in the 21st round. The star of the match was the Brazilian striker Igor Thiago, who netted twice for the hosts, scoring in the 30th and 65th minutes. Yegor Yarmolyuk added a third goal in the 76th minute to round off the result.
This victory temporarily elevated Brentford into 5th place in the table, moving them above Chelsea and Manchester United prior to the commencement of their midweek fixtures. The Bees also briefly narrowed the gap to just one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who are scheduled to face leaders Arsenal next.
Take a bow Igor Thiago 🔥
The Brentford striker has broken the record for most goals from a Brazilian player in a single Premier League season…and it's only January! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/PozknvO1tb
— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) January 7, 2026
Despite the defeat, Sunderland retained a position near the European qualification spots, an unexpected achievement at the midpoint of the season given their recent promotion.
Key Moments and Player Performance
The match opened with controversy when Brentford appealed for a penalty in the 7th minute, but referee Matthew Donohue allowed play to continue. Sunderland then enjoyed a spell of possession, though it was Brentford who generated the more dangerous opportunities. Igor Thiago first threatened with a shot narrowly missing the right post in the first half.
The breakthrough arrived on the half-hour mark, with Thiago calmly finishing to give Brentford the lead. Sunderland’s best effort of the opening period came late, with Brian Brobbey earning a corner after a solid attempt on goal.
After the interval, Sunderland increased their attacking intent, culminating in Enzo Le Fée firing just over the bar. The visitors appeared to have a lifeline when Christopher Ajer was penalised for a foul in the box, but Le Fée squandered the resulting penalty in the 60th minute.
Brentford capitalised on Sunderland’s missed opportunity less than five minutes later. Shade combined with Thiago, who slotted home his second goal of the evening and, with his 16th goal of the season, set a new record for most goals scored by a Brazilian player in a single Premier League season.
Thiago nearly completed a hat-trick in the 71st minute, only for Sunderland’s goalkeeper Robin Roefs to keep the score at 2-0. Yegor Yarmolyuk ended the contest shortly after, tapping in Brentford’s third in the 76th minute following a fortunate ricochet.
The final stages saw Reiss Nelson spurn a chance to further extend the margin in stoppage time, but Brentford’s dominant display had already sealed the points.
Statistical Overview
| Fixture | Result | Brentford Goalscorers | Sunderland Missed Penalty | Key Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford vs Sunderland | 3-0 | Igor Thiago (30′, 65′), Yegor Yarmolyuk (76′) | Enzo Le Fée (60′) | Igor Thiago: Most Premier League goals by a Brazilian in a season (16) |
