Brentford B have an exciting test in store on Wednesday 18 January as they head to AS Monaco in an 11am kick-off local time. They will come up against an Under-21 side from the Ligue 1 club in what will be another brilliant learning experience for our young Bees.

Having had the opportunity to play matches in Italy and the Netherlands so far this season, Neil MacFarlane’s team have had some brilliant matches against the likes of Como 1907, as well as Jong PSV and Jong AZ Alkmaar. Next stop for them is a trip to the French Riviera where they will come up against a talented Monaco group.

Having had a taste of playing abroad earlier in the campaign, Brentford B midfielder Angel Waruih is excited ahead of another test on foreign shores.

“For me, playing a team like Monaco, who I haven’t played before, will be a good experience,” said the youngster. “It’s a chance to come up against opponents that you wouldn’t normally see every week. It’s a great opportunity for you to express yourself but it’s important that we treat it like any other game.”

The 19-year-old linked up with the B Team in the summer of 2022 having departed Plymouth Argyle where he came through the ranks as he rose to their Under-18 side. Now in West London, Angel is loving the variety in the fixture programme which is helping his game develop.

He continued: “They’ve been really good tests. The first one, Como, we came up against a different style of play and they were very technical. We then went to Holland, and it was good to see how other teams play and test yourself against a different style.

“Even the language. When we play here you can hear the other players telling each other what to do or where to run but over there you have to try and predict it more because you don’t understand them. That’s when it’s about staying concentrated.”

This will be the second successive season that that the B Team will head for Monaco having made the trip in February 2022. Back then, they came up against a side packed with experience. Cesc Fabregas, a World Cup winner, featured in the centre of midfield as he looked to dictate things whilst Kevin Volland and Aleksandr Golovin were also involved for the home team. It was a match where the young Bees put in an assured performance. With the match at 1-1 after Nathan Young-Coombes levelled just before the break, Monaco then took the lead and kept it as Eric Ayiah tricked his way into the box before sealing a win for the Ligue 1 side.

Despite Angel not featuring for the Bees, the test that the young side had on their last trip still creates discussion among the players still at the club who featured in that game back in February last year. Angel is well aware of the upcoming task and it will serve as another wonderful learning opportunity for a side who have already shared many positive wins over the course of the season.

He continued: “You go into it knowing that they’re going to have good, technical players and from a tactical perspective you know that they will be set up well. We know what we can do and we believe in our ability so it’s about going and showing it.”