Loftus Road hosts the Under-21 Premier League Cup final on Thursday night as QPR and Brentford B go head-to-head for silverware and west London pride.
The hosts have found new gears in the Premier League Cup in a season in which they have struggled for form in the Professional Development League, subsequently finishing second-to-last in the South table.
A 2-0 triumph over Burnley last month secured their first final in this competition, with knockout-stage wins over Premier League 2 opposition in Leicester City and West Brom aiding their progression.
These results coincided with a run of eight defeats in 13 league matches since February, with a number of players unavailable due to earning opportunities in Marti Cifuentes' first-team squad.
Brentford have proven a more consistent outfit this campaign and are on course for a potential treble. The Young Bees are also set to be involved in the PDL National Play-Offs final and the London Senior Cup final.
Despite losing their first two group stage matches, the 2023 winners have gone seven games without defeat, including a 2-0 semi-final win away to Southampton two weeks ago, to reach their second final in three years.
Neil MacFarlane's side have come out on top in both meetings with QPR this season, winning 4-1 at Wheatsheaf Park in October before thrashing the R's 5-1 at the TSG Training Centre in April.
History is in QPR's side, however. In the six editions that the final has been played in a single game, a format changed in 2016, the home side have come out victorious in all of them.
Team News
QPR U21s
Paul Furlong may be able to call upon a number of players with growing first-team experience for this game.
Rayan Kolli, Kieran Morgan, Daniel Bennie, and Emmerson Sutton, all of whom have a combined 64 Championship appearances this season, could be involved after starting the semi-final.
Nathan Shepperd could be in line to face his former club after starting all three knockout stage matches; with a largely unchanged line-up expected from their semi-final win.
Brentford B
Romelle Donovan is ineligible after playing for parent club Birmingham City against Charlton Athletic in January.
Tony Yogane and Ashley Hay are available for selection after returning from their respective loans. Both were involved against Sheffield United U21s on Monday.
Ben Krauhaus is a doubt after being substituted in the first half in the PDL National Play-Off semi-final. Isaac Holland and Conor McManus are long-term absentees.
Predicted Lineups
QPR U21s
Sheppard; Putman, Wilkie, McDowell, Esquerdinha; Tuck, Bennie; Petrie, Murphy, Kolli; Dillon.
Brentford B
Eyestone; Fredrick, Arthur, Stephenson; Hickey, Brierley, Owen, Yogane; Morgan, Hay, Maghoma.
Key Players
QPR U21s: Rayan Kolli
The London-born Algerian has had a breakthrough season at his boyhood club and is part of an exciting group of players emerging at QPR.
A goal and an assist in a FA Cup defeat to Leicester City in January is a standout performance in a period that has seen him make 24 first-team appearances, in which he contributed five goals and three assists.
A centre-forward by trade but comfortable out wide, Kolli is effective with the ball at his feet, frequently dropping deep to get involved in the play and utilising his strength, agility, and acceleration to evade defenders.
The 20-year-old also boasts a strong finishing ability, clever movement, and an athleticism to tower over defenders in the area - attributes that will make him a difficult player to contend with.
Brentford B: Iwan Morgan
Morgan has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the line for Brentford B in 2025 and has done so with flying colours.
The centre-forward has 14 goals in his last 12 appearances alone, including a match-winner against Sheffield United on Monday, a semi-final strike versus Southampton, as well as a brace against Thursday's opponents.
He has proven to be a consistent goal scorer this year, frequently exhibiting clever movement inside of the area to create space before composing himself to produce a clever finish or fire in first-time.
Morgan is influential in the build-up as he drops deep to draw out defenders, combine with team-mates, before using his speed to exploit the vacated space and punish the opposition - alike his idol Jamie Vardy.
Match Details
Where is this game being played?
Loftus Road, London.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off is at 19:00 (BST) on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
How can I watch?
This fixture will be livestreamed on QPR's website and can be accessed with a QPR+ pass.