PSG vs Brest Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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These are two of last season’s top three and two of Ligue 1’s three automatic UEFA Champions League qualifiers but there is a major difference between the two teams this time around as Stade Brest travel to the capital.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 14th September, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 Pass / US – beIN Sports
PSG PREVIEW: FRESH PARISIENS
Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is in charge of a Paris Saint-Germain side that has started this season looking a lot more fluid and cohesive, particularly in attack, without the likes of mega stars such as Neymar and Lionel Messi, as well as former captain Kylian Mbappe, who left for Real Madrid this summer.
It was an underwhelming start in terms of performance level as they won 4-1 at Le Havre on the opening weekend when it was 1-1 in the 85th minute but they then hammered Montpellier Herault by six goals to nil at the Parc des Princes before travelling to the north to defeat then 100%-ers Lille by three goals to one.
BREST PREVIEW: REBUILDING BREST
Last season, under the management of former Sunderland player Eric Roy, Stade Brest produced one of the best stories anywhere in European football as they, with one of the smallest budgets in Ligue 1, managed a third-place finish and guaranteed themselves UEFA Champions League football on the final day of last season.
This season, Brest will return to what they were and that is knowing that survival is general success but they will have to do so by balancing that against UEFA Champions League football. They started with back-to-back defeats against Marseille and Lens respectively but then did manage to hammer newly-promoted Saint-Etienne by four goals to nil a couple of weeks ago.
PSG TEAM NEWS: MIDFIELD ISSUES
Both Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha, key midfield options for Luis Enrique, have returned from international duty with minor injury concerns and they could both be unavailable.
PSG remain without experienced defender Presnel Kimpembe, who is a long-term absentee, whilst Goncalo Ramos is also out after a strong start to the season against Le Havre.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Beraldo; Doue, Neves, Fabian Ruiz; Barcola, Kolo Muani, Dembele
UNAVAILABLE: Kimpembe (Injured), Ramos (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Zaire-Emery (Injured), Vitinha (Injured)
BREST TEAM NEWS: KEY ABSENTEES
After the departure of some key players this summer, such as Steve Mounie, Brest are also dealing with a couple of really key injury issues as they visit the capital.
Reported Tottenham Hotspur target Bradley Locko is unavailable for the visitors with an Achilles injury, whilst former Norwich City man Pierre Lees-Melou is also sidelined.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Le Cardinal, Amavi; Camara, Magnetti, Faivre; Del Castillo, Ajorque, Sima
UNAVAILABLE: Locko (Injured), Lees-Melou (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
PSG VS BREST PREDICTION
Both of these sides have European distractions in midweek as PSG take on Girona at the Parc des Princes, whilst Brest will welcome Austrian champions Sturm Graz to Stade du Roudourou. PSG are the dominant force in French football and it already seems like a case of just how soon they can get the title wrapped up. Brest improved just before the break but a heavy and comfortable home win remains the likeliest outcome for this one.
PSG VS BREST TIP: PSG TO WIN
