Champions League | League Stage

Dec 10, 2024 at 8pm UK

Stade Francis-Le Ble

Brestvs.PSV

Match preview

While the team's performance on the continent has been excellent and exceeded expectations, Brest continue to struggle domestically. They suffered a fourth defeat in five league games on Friday.

Eric Roy's team were beaten 3-1 by fellow Champions League participants Lille. This result leaves them in the bottom half of the table, closer to the relegation zone than the European places.

They've done pretty well at home, with just one loss in eight games. That was on opening day against Marseille.

They've also picked up four points from their two games in Guingamp so far in the Champions League, beating Sturm Graz and drawing with Bundesliga holders Bayer Leverkusen.

If Brest can avoid defeat here, they'll become the first French team since Lille in 2001 to start a UCL season unbeaten in their first three home games.

The Pirates had a great day out at Barcelona on matchday five, but ended up losing 3-0. They've already got 10 points, so they're likely to progress regardless of what happens in their final three matches.

If Roy's team can pull off a win, they'll move into the top eight, playing before Wednesday's matches, and with some of the teams around them facing each other.

PSV are in great form, even though they're below Brest in the 36-team standings. They've now won six games in a row across all competitions, beating Twente 6-1 on Friday.

That comes after they also beat second-placed Utrecht 5-2 a week earlier, which has opened up a healthy lead at the top. They've scored 56 goals in just 15 Eredivisie games so far.

Since losing to rivals Ajax, Peter Bosz's team have scored 26 goals across six wins, two of which have come in the Champions League – against Girona and Shakhtar Donetsk. This means PSV have the chance to win three straight UCL games for the first time in over 18 years.

The win against Girona was easy, but they had to fight hard to beat Shakhtar on matchday five. They were down 2-0 in the 87th minute, but Malik Tillman's double and Ricardo Pepi's 95th-minute winner sent the Philips Stadion into a frenzy.

Those three points moved PSV into the top 24 for the first time this season, but they'll need more than eight points to progress. Bosz will be looking to get over the line in this fixture and a trip to Red Star Belgrade, before facing Liverpool on matchday eight.

Recent Performance

Brest Champions League form:WWDWL

Brest form (all competitions):WLLLWL

PSV Eindhoven Champions League form:LDDWW

PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):WWWWWW

Team News

Roy made a few changes to his Brest team for the trip to Lille on Friday night, so players like Abdallah Sima, Edimilson Fernandes and Jordan Amavi could come back.

Kenny Lala is out with an injury, and with Luck Zogbe unable to play in Europe, that could mean Fernandes has to play full-back, or Haidara shifts over to the other side.

On the injury front, Bradley Locko and Soumaila Coulibaly are still out for the long term, and it looks like Jonas Martin and Pierre Lees-Melou won't be featuring either.

PSV also made some changes on Friday night, with Pepi getting another chance over Luuk de Jong. But it was Ismael Saibari who really stood out. The Moroccan now has four goals and three assists in just two matches.

Joey Veerman and Jerdy Schouten have both recently made a comeback after being out with injuries, but they haven't started yet, so it's unlikely they'll be thrown in from the start.

There's a chance that Sergino Dest and Adamo Nagalo will be fit in time to return, and Rick Karsdorp should also be able to slot in at right-back after a brief setback last week.

Possible starting lineup

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Fernandes, Chardonnet, Le Cardinal, Amavi; Camara, Doumbia, Magnetti; Pereira Lage, Ajorque, Sima

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Karsdorp, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams; Tillman, Mauro Jr, Saibari; Bakayoko, De Jong, Lang