Marseille vs Brest Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
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When is Marseille vs Brest on and what time does it start? Marseille vs Brest will take place on Saturday 26th August, 2023 – 16:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Marseille vs Brest? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Marseille vs Brest on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Marseille vs Brest
Where can I stream Marseille vs Brest in the UK? If Marseille vs Brest is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
MARSEILLE
Olympique de Marseille appear to start a new and ambitious project every summer. After Igor Tudor performed quite well last season in getting them a top three finish and UEFA Champions League qualification, he departed to be replaced by former Valencia manager Marcelino; who is at the opposite end of the tactical scale. Marseille have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League already by Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round and have been underwhelming at the start of the Ligue 1 season.
Their opening match saw them fall behind early on to a Junya Ito strike for Stade Reims but they eventually overcame Will Still’s side with a 2-1 win. After that, though, they shared a 2-2 draw with a newly-promoted Metz side last weekend, who were thrashed by five goals to one by Rennes on the opening day of the season.
BREST
With Ligue 1 being reduced from 20 to 18 teams for this season, Stade Brest are one of a few sides that will be concerned by that as the bottom-of-the-table becomes more competitive and congested. They finished 14th last season and will be concerned about dropping just a couple more places. However, under the management of former Nice manager Eric Roy, they have made an excellent start to the campaign.
On the opening day of the season, they came from 2-0 down to beat last season’s second-placed side Lens by three goals to two with Romain Del Castillo notching a brace. Del Castillo then scored in their 2-1 victory away to newly-promoted Le Havre last weekend which actually means they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting second in the table as one of just two sides to start with two victories.
THE TEAM NEWS
MARSEILLE
Olympique de Marseille will be frustrated to their start to the campaign and Marcelino, with Pape Gueye due to suspension and potentially without Geoffrey Kondogbia, will look to make changes at Stade Velodrome this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Lopez; Clauss, Mbemba, Balerdi, Lodi; Sarr, Rongier, Kondogbia, Soglo; Ndiaye, Aubameyang
UNAVAILABLE: Gueye (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Kondogbia (Injured)
BREST
Stade Brest are expected to name an unchanged side for this weekend’s trip to the south of France, especially given their excellent start to the Ligue 1 campaign.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Locko; Camara, Magnetti; Less-Melou, Del Castillo, Le Douaron; Satriano
UNAVAILABLE: Lebeau (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
As mentioned, Marseille are seemingly switching the style of football in which they want to play as they move from Igor Tudor to Marcelino. They began with a victory against Reims but will be frustrated to have missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification, as well as being held by Metz. Brest’s excellent start to the campaign, at least in terms of results, is likely to be unsustainable and, whilst they will go to Marseille and expect to threaten, the hosts remain the firm favourites as they try and find some fluency.
TIP: MARSEILLE TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
