Ligue 1 | Gameweek 17

Jan 11, 2025 at 4pm UK

Stade Francis-Le Ble

Brest vs Lyon

Match preview

What promises to be a challenging month at the Stade Brestois began on a sour note last weekend when a three-match winning streak in all competitions came to an end.

It was the first of seven competitive games the Brittany outfit will play in January, and the defeat was their first since a 3-0 loss at Barcelona in the Champions League in November.

Eric Roy's men go into the game on a three-match home winning streak in all competitions, with just one defeat in their last seven league games at the Stade Francis-Le Ble.

Despite already securing a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, Brest have failed to replicate last season's domestic success, picking up 19 points to date, nine fewer than they had at this stage of the 2023-24 campaign.

One thing they have done well in the league has been their defensive solidity in Brittany, conceding just 16 goals at the Stade Francis-Le Ble, the lowest number conceded at home by any side in the French top flight all year round.

This weekend gives Brest the chance to win back-to-back top-flight home games against Lyon for the first time since 1979-1982 (three), when they won 1-0 in this very fixture a season ago.

Away from the pitch, Olympique Lyonnais may be struggling financially, but that has not affected their recent form on it.

Pierre Sage's men have picked up points in 11 of their last 12 matches, with their only defeat coming at the hands of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain (3-1).

They have already secured a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League and, despite the domestic sanctions imposed on them, Les Gones are still fifth in Ligue 1, just two points behind Monaco for a place in next season's Champions League group stage.

Lyon have taken points away from home in six of their last seven top-flight matches, but are in danger of losing consecutive league games as visitors this weekend for the first time since December 2023.

They have been almost perfect at finding the back of the net in this competition of late, winning 12 top-flight matches in a row.

While Brest are well off their 2023-24 pace, Lyon are well ahead of where they were at this stage of the previous campaign, with 28 points this time around, 15 more than they had after 16 matches a season ago.

Recent Performance

Brest Ligue 1 form:LLWLWL

Brest form (all competitions):WLWWWL

Lyon Ligue 1 form:WDWWLW

Lyon form (all competitions):WWWLWW

Team News

Not only do Brest have a busy schedule this month, but they also have a number of players nursing injuries, including Bradley Locko (lower leg), Julien Le Cardinal (hamstring) and Jonas Martin (muscle).

The club could have Pierre Lees-Melou back from a calf strain, while Marco Bizot was between the sticks last weekend after picking up a knock.

Bizot kept a clean sheet in this fixture last season, with the only goal coming from former Stade Brestois striker Steve Mounie.

For Lyon, Maxence Caqueret is a doubt with an injury, while Nicolas Tagliafico is eligible to return from a yellow card suspension.

Predictably, given their financial problems, the club have been busy selling players, with Anthony Lopes moving to Nantes, Jeffinho joining Botafogo, Gift Orban moving to Hoffenheim and Thiago Almada reportedly undergoing a medical to join OL despite the transfer ban.

An own goal from Khalil Fayad in second-half stoppage time secured a narrow victory in their last league meeting, with Lucas Perri making six saves to keep a clean sheet.

Possible starting lineup

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Ndiaye, Haidara; Doumbia, Fernandes, Faivre; Del Castillo, Ajorque, Balde

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Caleta-Car, Abner; Veretout, Matic, Benrahma; Cherki, Lacazette, Fofana