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Last season, Auxerre gained promotion to the top-flight of French football and, whilst they were doing that, Stade Brest produced something of a miracle to finish third in Ligue 1 and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 27th September, 2024 - UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 10:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
AUXERRE PREVIEW: TRICKY SINCE THE OPENER
Christophe Pelissier guided Auxerre to promotion last season and they began the campaign with a last gasp and dramatic victory on the opening day of the campaign against Nice with summer signing Lasso Coulibaly scoring a winning goal in second-half stoppage-time.
However, since beginning the season with a win, Auxerre have failed to collect another point in their subsequent four matches, conceding 11 goals in those four games, too. The hosts come into this one on the back of what was a topsy turvy and entertaining encounter against Montpellier Herault, who are also expected to struggle throughout the season, with the game ending in a 3-2 defeat.
BREST PREVIEW: BRILLIANT BREST
Under the management of former Sunderland player Eric Roy, Stade Brest have one of the smallest budgets in Ligue 1 but they have been able to propel themselves into the UEFA Champions League this season. That congested fixture list was always going to be a challenge, though, with a small-ish squad and some key departures and injuries.
The visitors come into this one on the back of three victories in their last four matches across all competitions, including a win over Sturm Graz in Europe last week. Brest’s most recent outing saw them defeat Toulouse by two goals to nil last weekend with strikes from Mama Balde and Romain Faivre.
AUXERRE TEAM NEWS: A FEW ISSUES FOR AUXERRE
Auxerre are dealing with a few injury issues this weekend but there are no fresh concerns or suspensions for Pelissier to deal with as they welcome Brest.
The aforementioned Lasso Coulibaly remains sidelined due to an ACL injury and he is joined by the likes of Gideon Mensah, Ange Loic N’Gatta and Ousoumane Camara.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Fofana; Arcus, Biumla, Lefort, Hanin; Aholou, Belkelba; Allevinah, Abdelli, El Melali; Dieng
UNAVAILABLE: Coulibaly (Injured), N’Gatta (Injured), Mensah (Injured), Camara (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BREST TEAM NEWS: DEL CASTILLO ISSUE
In the last few weeks, Brest have been dealing with key injury issues as both Bradley Locko and former Norwich City midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou have been unavailable.
As well as those players, Brest now have a fresh injury concern as one of their most important attacking players, Romain Del Castillo, has suffered a groin injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-2-1-2): Bizot; Zogbe, Le Cardinal, Ndiaye, Haidara; Magnetti; Pereira Lage, Martin; Doumbia; Salah, Balde
UNAVAILABLE: Locko (Injured), Lees-Melou (Injured), Del Castillo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
AUXERRE VS BREST PREDICTION
Auxerre did start the season positively but there will now be a view that, after four defeats, that victory on the opening day of the season was actually quite fortuitous coming so late on and with Nice actually playing some good football. Brest will hope they have rediscovered some sort of rhythm ahead of this weekend and they have had the midweek off, too, so a double chance bet in favour of the visitors looks a good bet for this one.
AUXERRE VS BREST TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – BREST TO WIN OR DRAW