Brest vs Nice: Match Preview and Prediction

November 2, 2024. 20:00. Brest. Francis Le Ble Stadium
French Championship. Round 10

Where to watch: MEGOGO

Injuries: Loko, Sima, Zogbe, Aidara - Moffi, Ndombele, Sanson, Ndajimiye, Dante (?)

Another clash involving French teams in European competitions awaits us on Saturday as Brest hosts Nice in the 10th round of Ligue 1. Both teams emerged victorious in the last round, each claiming 13 points so far, but that is not enough to break into the European zone in the current standings.

Brest

Some have been quick to declare that Brest's shaky start to the new season spells the end of last year's fairy tale, in which the "Pirates" finished third and qualified for European competitions, including the Champions League, for the first time. With just two wins in the first six rounds, both at home against Saint-Etienne and Toulouse, their record appeared lackluster against four losses. However, aside from a heavy defeat to newly-promoted Auxerre (0:3), the rest of their matches were against formidable opponents - Marseille (1:5), Lens (0:2), and PSG (1:3).

Nevertheless, Brest has responded magnificently to skeptics by starting their debut Champions League campaign on a high note, defeating Austrian teams Sturm and Salzburg in the group stage, while holding reigning German champions Bayer to a 1:1 draw in the third round. Coach Derue's side has managed to cope with a tight schedule, winning every weekend match following the Champions League fixtures. Currently, they are on a five-match unbeaten streak.

In the league specifically, they boast a three-match unbeaten run. Notably, they managed to defeat Reims last weekend thanks to quick goals from Fevr and Balde. This victory marked Brest's first away win in Ligue 1. At home, the Pirates look even more convincing - following a crushing defeat by Marseille, they have secured three consecutive clean-sheet victories, with a lone 1:1 draw against Rennes slightly tarnishing their record.

Nice

Under the guidance of new boss Ez, who took charge in the summer, Nice’s European campaign hasn’t gone nearly as smoothly as Brest's. The Eagles have managed to secure only one point from three group stage matches in the Europa League, drawing with Real Sociedad but losing to Lazio and Ferencvaros.

In the league, however, Nice is gradually finding its rhythm, as their five-match unbeaten streak attests. Yet, consistency in victory continues to elude them. Following a remarkable thrashing of Saint-Etienne, they registered three consecutive draws against Lens, PSG, and Nantes. Last round, they finally broke this stalemate with a victory, notably defeating Monaco, who had previously been unbeaten. After conceding first, they remarkably equalized through Hessane and pressed their advantage in the second half against a ten-man opponent.

At home, Ez's side has remained unbeaten, amassing eight points, especially notable given that two of these matches were against the league leaders, PSG, and Monaco. Their away form, however, has yet to reap similar rewards, with losses to Auxerre and Marseille, draws with Lens and Nantes, and a solitary victory against Angers (4:1). Overall, barring two heavy defeats, Nice has struggled to find the net. The match against Brest could further illustrate this trend, as last season both encounters ended in 0:0 draws.

Brest vs Nice: Probable Line-ups

Loko and Sima are injured for Brest and have been joined in the medical room by Zogbe and Aidara. Moffi, Ndombele, Sanson, and Ndajimiye will miss the game due to injuries. Dante is also doubtful after leaving the pitch early last weekend.

Brest vs Nice: Author's Prediction

While Brest tends to win after their Champions League matches, they struggle to secure victories leading up to their next European fixture. This match will also prove challenging for the hosts to claim all three points. I also anticipate a low-scoring affair, with the total likely to be under 2.5 goals.