Brest vs. Nice: Prediction and Match Preview

September 20, 2025. 20:00. Brest. Francis-les-Bleus Stadium
French Championship. 5th round

Disqualified: Majecki (Brest)

Injured: Toussar, Balde - Abdelmonem, Bombito, Ndayshimie, Abdi, Shu, Ndongala

On Saturday, the Francis-les-Bleus Stadium will host the match of the 5th round of the French Championship between Brest and Nice. The hosts, who have just completed outstanding seasons, suffered a setback at the beginning of this season, which led to the relegation zone. Meanwhile, the visitors have been alternating wins and losses, comfortably sitting in mid-table.

Brest

The last two seasons have been truly magical for Brest. After settling for a solid finish in the top half of Ligue 1, the team has surpassed all expectations to finish third and make their European debut. They have then maintained their success in the Champions League, qualifying straight for the play-offs, although they fell just one point short of a European spot in their domestic division, finishing ninth amid a busy schedule. This summer, the club retained their key manager, Roy, whose leadership has helped them grow, but budget constraints, typical of a lower division side, have forced the sale of several stars during the transfer window.

The consequences are clear at the start of the new season, and Brest are among two teams yet to win. Their first match brought a promising 3-3 draw against Lille at home, where they came back three times, notably thanks to a brace from Dembele. However, in the next three matches, only two goals were scored, resulting in three defeats. In the first two, against Toulouse (0-2 at home) and Lens (1-3 away), the opponents each took a two-goal lead, both conceded after the break. Last week, against newcomers Paris, they scored both goals before half-time, and Del Castillo's second-half penalty failed to turn the tables. With 10 goals conceded, they lead the league in defensive woes.

If Brest extend their poor run with another defeat, it would be their worst start to a Ligue 2 season since 2006/07. If their losing streak reaches four, it would be their longest under Roy, who took charge in 2023. They have conceded five goals in their two home games - the same number they conceded in their last six matches at Stade Francis-les-Bleus last season. Breaking that slump will be difficult as Nice have been a tough opponent; Brest have failed to score in their last four meetings, and both matches last season ended in defeat.

Nice

Despite a strong debut season under Eza, which secured them a place in the Champions League, Nice have not received significant additional support from their owners. The club's owner, Ratcliffe, is focusing most of his efforts on his other team, Manchester United, leaving Nice without any significant reinforcements. Instead, key players such as Ghassani, Bouanani, Bulka, Rosario and Laborde have left the team. Unsurprisingly, they were knocked out of the Champions League after the first qualifying round, losing 0-2 to Benfica twice, and now face a new Europa League campaign, looking to overcome last year's disappointing group stage finish near the bottom.

Before heading to Europe, Nice are looking to climb up the Ligue 1 table. The start of the season has not been particularly encouraging for Eze fans. Their only away game ended in a 1-3 defeat to Le Havre, and a similar two-goal deficit saw them lose their first home game against Toulouse, which ended 0-2. Fortunately, the next two home matches brought victories: a 3-1 win over Auxerre thanks to goals from Boga, Akpa and Moffa, followed by a goalless draw against Nantes, where they limited their shots to three, with Boga's goal early in the second half sealing the win.

The win extended Nice's run of three first-half clean sheets, and their ability to score first was crucial - they have won their last six such matches and their unbeaten run now stands at seven. A trip to Stade Francis-les-Bleus could earn Nice their first away points of the season, given their strong record against Brest, where they have won eight of their nine meetings and kept a clean sheet in seven.

Brest vs Nice: Expected Lineups

Toussar and Balde remain sidelined for Brest, while Majecki is serving another suspension. Nice have a long injury list: Abdelmonem, Bombito, Ndayishimiye, Abdi, Chou and Ndongala.

Brest vs Nice: Author's Prediction

Brest have struggled early in the season, especially in defence. I expect Nice to take advantage of this and get their first away win of the season.