A few hours before the meeting between AS Monaco and Stade Brestois (Friday, 7 p.m.), find out everything you need to know about the club also qualified for the Champions League this season.
Ligue 1 is back at Stade Louis-II. Three weeks to the day after the last match played at home, the Rouge et Blanc host Brest, for the 12th day of the championship. A match that will have to be taken seriously since the Finisterians are also in the Champions League. A few hours before kick-off (7 p.m.), find out everything you need to know about the current fourth in C1. Portrait ????
A historic season last year ????
In the fight for maintenance in 2022-2023, Brest expected to play it again last season. But against all expectations, Eric Roy's men had an exceptional run in the championship and finished in third place, just behind AS Monaco, synonymous with direct qualification for the Champions League. A historic performance since it is the first time that the Breton club has participated in a European competition.
A dream journey in Europe… ????
And the Brestois, full of carefreeness, are afraid of nothing in C1 and there too have a fabulous run. Still undefeated after four matches, they beat Sturm Graz (2-1), RB Salzburg (0-4) as well as Sparta Prague (1-2), and hung on to Bayer Leverkusen, reigning German champion ( 1-1).
With 10 points on the clock like AS Monaco, they are fourth and are on track to compete in the play-offs at least before dangerous matches against Barcelona or Real Madrid.
It's not easy for Brest because it's the first time they're participating in the Champions League. They also have 10 points like us but remain on two defeats in Ligue 1 against Nice and Montpellier. This last defeat was also a little surprising. I know this team, they have a clear 4-3-3 structure most of the time.
Adi HütterOn the two faces of Brest
But in the soft stomach in Ligue 1 ????
The Finisterians, on the other hand, are less successful in the domestic championship. After 11 contested matches, they are in fact twelfth with 13 units and only have three more compared to the play-off, Saint-Etienne. In a series of two defeats in a row against Nice (0-1) and Montpellier (3-1), they are particularly having great difficulties away from home with only three points taken in five games, unlike the Rouge et Blanc.
Un turnover permanent ????
To try to best manage the sequence of matches, Eric Roy, who is now playing his team in 4-3-3 against the 4-2-3-1 of last year, is rotating his squad widely. . In Toulouse, after the C1 match against Graz, only Marco Bizot and Hugo Magnetti remained in the starting XI.
A strategy that paid off since they won 2-0. Less success, however, in Montpellier before the break where they lost 3-1 after making seven changes, after the success acquired in Prague. Before the trip to Barça on Tuesday, “King Eric” could therefore be tempted to do the same thing.
A long absence but executive returns ????
For this trip to the Principality, the Breton coach will be able to count on several returns compared to the match in Montpellier. Striker Ludovic Ajorque will indeed be present at the Stade Louis-II, as will Romain Del Castillo and Abdallah Sima, reduced in Hérault. On the other hand, left backs Bradley Locko, who suffers from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Massadio Haïdara, central defender Soumaila Coulibaly and former Monegasque Romain Faivre will be absent.
Players to follow ????
Kenny Lala ????
A well-known player in the French championship where he previously played in Strasbourg, the right back has been playing in Brittany since 2022-2023. A formidable centerman, he is the Brestois to have achieved the most (26), while being the one who has touched the most balls (648) and made the most passes (442) since the start of the season.
Pierre Lees-Melou ????️
He is “the leader of the Brest group”, says Adi Hütter at a press conference. Injured at the start of the season, the midfielder has been back since the beginning of October and quickly proved himself indispensable again on both sides of the pitch. For example, he is the second Brest player behind Del Castillo to send the most passes in the final third per match (11.6) and was able to be decisive against Bayer by scoring the equalizing goal.
Abdallah Sima ⚽
He is on loan from Brighton and wasted no time acclimatizing in Eric Roy's collective. Even if he has not yet scored in six Ligue 1 games this season, the winger capable of playing on the right and left is indeed shining on the European scene with three goals already scored in the Champions League (a goal against Graz and a double in Salzburg).
