Key players, play-style and predicted XI – what can Barcelona expect from Brest?

Barcelona face Stade Brestois in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night with the latter looking to extend their unbeaten run in the competition.

Currently in the top five in the revamped ‘League Phase’ of the competition, Brest, competing in Europe for the very first time, have three wins and a draw from their first four games. However, whilst they have been impressive in the Champions League, their form in Ligue 1 has been indifferent at best.

On a three-game losing streak in France’s top flight, they are currently 12th and just three points above the relegation zone. The latest defeat, against AS Monaco (3-2) on Friday, even led Eric Roy to evoke a potential relegation battle for the Breton-based club. For a team that finished third last season, that would be unthinkable, albeit plausible. “There is nothing shameful [in a fight for relegation]. It is something that has been ingrained in the club for many years,” said Roy, who has worked miracles at the club since his appointment.

Brest weakened by summer departures

However, his side aren’t having the same degree of success this year. There were departures over the summer, including Martím Satriano, Steve Mounié, and Lilian Brassier – all played an important role in Brest’s success last campaign. As did Bradley Locko, who just days before the start of the Ligue 1 campaign suffered an ACL injury. He will not feature this season.

Pierre Lees-Melou missed the start of the campaign. He recently returned and his return coincided with an uptick in form domestically, with his ball-winning capabilities crucial for this work-man-like Brest side. However, he left the stadium on crutches on Friday and as confirmed by Roy, he won’t play again this season. It is a big blow for Brest with Lees-Melou key not only to retrieving the ball but also for retaining it.

Les Pirates are a team that like to dominate the ball, although they are also capable of hitting sides in transition, depending on the personnel utilised. Players such as Mama Baldé and Romain Faivre allow for a more fluid, transitional style, but they can, and do, play with a focal point more often, with the in-form duo of Abdallah Sima and Ludovic Ajorque proving strong outlets for Brest. There is therefore a variety of threats for Barcelona to contend with, even if the La Liga giants, contrary to what the Champions League standings suggest, are the strong favourites in this encounter.

Brest likely line-up v Barcelona

Marco Bizot; Massadio Haïdara, Julien Le Cardinal, Brendan Chardonnet, Kenny Lala; Hugo Magnetti, Edimilson Fernandes, Mahdi Camara; Abdallah Sima, Ludovic Ajorque, Kamory Doumbia. (L’Éq)

GSFN | Luke Entwistle