An exciting Ligue 1 clash will unfold on January 11, 2025, as Stade Brest receives Olympique Lyon at Stade Francis-Le Blé. Brest fights for mid-table security against a revitalized Lyon with eyes on European qualification. This contrast in form and ambitions only adds to the drama and tactical intrigue on show. Can Eric Roy's Brest make full use of their home advantage, or will Pierre Sage's Lyon extend its dominance?
What are your thoughts on this clash? Will Brest upset the odds or will Lyon assert their dominance? Let us know in the comments!
Claim Your Welcome BonusStade Brest
Stade Brest is 12th in the table, having an on-and-off season with 6 wins, 1 draw, and 9 losses. Their recent form is indicative of this: LWWWL. They have been relatively decent at home, with 3 wins, 1 draw, and a single loss in their last five. But their most recent outing—a 2-0 defeat to Angers—did show some chinks in their defense.
Eric Roy's men have been focusing on structured play, and their top performer, Romain Castillo, has scored 4 goals and provided 3 assists this season. Brest averages 1.5 goals per game, while their defense is conceding at a worrying rate of 1.8 goals per game. Having kept just three clean sheets this season, solidity at the back will be key.
The interesting stat of theirs would be the corner count, staying below 10.5 corners in nine out of ten games recently, a show of more caution rather than all-out attack.
Olympique Lyon
Olympique Lyon sits 5th with 8 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses, doing quite well under the tutelage of Pierre Sage. The team has gained momentum, winning 4 of their last 5 matches (WWLWW), including a hard-fought 1-0 win over Montpellier. The winning goal was an own goal, but the fighting spirit of Lyon came to the fore, abetted by excellent goalkeeping by Lucas Perri.
Defensively, Lyon has tightened up, with six clean sheets this season and an average of 1.3 goals conceded per game. Nicolas Tagliafico remains a key figure, providing stability at the back with his ability to intercept 2.1/game and clear danger 2.3/game. On the attacking front, Lyon's 1.8 goals per game underline their efficiency.
Stats of late have been for high-scoring games for them, as six of their last seven matches have gone over 2.5 goals and both teams have scored in six of their last eight outings. Thiago Almada's addition from Botafogo may just make Lyon's midfield more dynamic.
Head to Head
Lyon has traditionally had the upper hand in this clash, winning six of the last 16 to Brest's two, with eight games ending all-square. Here are their recent H2H stats:
* Both Teams to Score (GG): 8/10
* Under 4.5 Cards: 7/8
* Over 10.5 Corners: 7/8
This implies a competitive yet disciplined matchup, and thus a potential goal galore for both teams.
History of Head-to-Heads
Ligue 1 2023/2024
Brest
Ligue 1 2023/2024
FC Lyon
Ligue 1 2022/2023
Brest
Ligue 1 2022/2023
FC Lyon
Ligue 1 2021/2022
FC Lyon
Expert Betting Tips
This match pits the fragile defense of Brest against Lyon's well-rounded attack. Home advantage and creativity from Castillo will do Brest's cause no harm, but Lyon's form on the road reads 3W, 1D, 1L, and a well-organized defense makes all the difference here. Both sides have trends that go either way regarding goal-fest or tight games; therefore, looking at key midfield battles and set pieces will be critical.
Over 2.5 Goals: Both teams have a tendency to play high-scoring games, so the current run for Lyon of over 2.5 goals 6/7 is a pretty good indicator.
Match Result - Lyon to Win: Lyon is in better form and has been solid away. Brest's defense could be their downfall.
Both Teams to Score (GG): H2H history-8/10, Brest's home scoring rate of 1.5 goals/game suggests both sides are likely to find the net.
Other predictions
