Sports Mole previews Friday’s Ligue 1 clash between Brest and Reims, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
A top four place could be confirmed for Ligue 1 surprise package this season Brest Friday, when Reims meet at the party atmosphere of Stade Francis-Le Blé.
Eric RoyThe men are still on course for Champions League qualification despite winning just one of their last four games, while their visitors are now planning life without a head coach. will always be.
Match Preview
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Expending all their energy in a phenomenal 5-4 victory over Rennes in late April, Brest’s home encounter against Nantes on May 4 was a much more subdued affair, which head coach Roy was forced to attend from the stands due to his suspension on the sideline.
Both teams wasted some promising chances to claim all three points as the spoils were shared, seeing Brest accumulate only their fourth point from the last 12 on offer, having also been beaten by Lyon and Monaco last month and lost their hold on second place. in the table.
However, Pirates – who now sit in third place – will play in at least the Europa League next season, and their lead over fifth-placed Nice stands at six points after playing a game more, meaning qualification for the Champions League could be assured in Friday’s action.
Nice face Le Havre at the same time as Brest against Reims, where Roy’s men will guarantee a place in the top 4 if they can improve on the Aiglons’ result, but they will have another bite of the cherry against bottom half Toulouse . the last day if they fail, May 10.
Only Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille (one each) can do better than Brest, who have suffered only two home defeats all season, although only one of Pirates’ last four matches at the Stade Francis Le-Blé ended in victory. worked hard to triumph 4-3 against relegation-battling Metz.
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Preventing Brest from possibly sealing a top-four finish, Reims are now under new management following the departure of the much-admired Still, whose previously exceptional time in the hot seat ended with a whimper due to a series of three matches without a victory.
Before the Englishman – reportedly admired by West Ham United and Sunderland – resigned from his post with immediate effect, he oversaw a humiliating 4-1 defeat to relegated Clermont, which followed defeats to Strasbourg and Reims earlier in april.
With nothing left to play for but pride and a place in the top half of the season as the season draws to a close, the 12th-placed Red and Whites will now prepare for their first fight under the interim wing of Samba Diawaraformer assistant to Still who also has extensive coaching experience in Belgium.
The 46-year-old’s first task will be to end a five-match winless run for Reims, who have also kept just one away clean sheet in the entire Ligue 1 campaign – by shutting out Nantes in October – although a five-game road scoring streak offers some comfort.
Yet, unable to play this month thanks to Marseille’s Europa League exploits, Reims were beaten 2-1 at home by Brest in September, a result which ended a streak of four draws between Les Pirates and Les Reds and Whites, whose last victory in this match dates back to January 2021.
Brest Ligue 1 form:
Reims Ligue 1 form:
Team News
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In addition to the return of Roy after his sideline ban, Brest also has the central defender from Lens on loan. Julien Le Cardinal back at their disposal following his yellow card suspension, but Pirates lost two players to injury during the first half of their draw at Nantes.
In fact, both Pierre Lee-Melou And Romain Del Castillo were withdrawn early against Los Canaries due to calf injuries, and the former’s season is over due to a fractured fibula, while Del Castillo is not nursing anything as serious but will also be out.
As was the case last weekend, Jonas Martin And Mathias Pereira Lage should be summoned to replace the two injured, although Jérémie Le Douaron is an alternative option on the wing for Roy.
While Brest has a defender back in its ranks after a stint on the naughty field, Reims lost by chance. Thibault De Smetwho received a straight red card during the Clermont beating and who must now serve a one-match suspension.
De Smet joins Mohamed Darami (knee), Maxime Busi (muscle), Joseph Okumu (ankle) and Valentin Atangana (thigh) on the sidelines of Friday’s match, and the right-back’s red card should see Thomas Foket insert themselves into the back line of visitors.
Despite this being his first game in charge of the team, Diawara should not be averse to making some changes following their recent embarrassment, offering Amir Richardson And Reda Khadra the hope of establishing themselves in the Reims midfield.
Brest possible starting lineup:
Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Locko; Magneti, Martin; Pereira Lage, Camara, Satriano; Mounie
Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Foket, Agbadou, Abdelhamid, Koudou; Teuma, Munetsi, Richardson; Ito, Diakité, Nakamura
We say: Brest 2-1 Reims
With security assured and only a top half to contend with this season, Reims should not be desperate to have a new manager under Diawara, and their defensive discipline has eluded them in recent weeks.
Goals from both sides are seemingly a guarantee in this one, but due to the visitors’ rearguard’s horrendous record on the road, Brest should take the spoils and do everything they can to wrap up a early qualification for the Champions League.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
