Paris v. Brest: Back in action

A LOOK AT THE TABLE

2024–2025 got off to a tricky start for Les Brestois, who were pitted against two of the league's big hitters in their first two games; after picking themselves up from a 5-1 thumping at home to Olympique de Marseille on the opening day of the season, the northwesterners lost 2-0 away to RC Lens on Matchday 2. However, the Breton side reacted in the best way possible in their most recent top-flight outing, as they comfortably beat AS Saint-Étienne 4-0 to truly kickstart their campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, have enjoyed an ideal start to the season. After managing to record a 4-1 win away to Le Havre AC with a late flurry of goals on the opening day, Les Rouge et Bleu celebrated their return to the Parc des Princes a week later with a 6-0 thrashing of Montpellier HSC. Then, just before the international break, Les Parisiens continued their fine form with a third victory in as many matches, running out 3-1 winners over LOSC Lille to move into top spot in Ligue 1.

THE TWO TEAMS' CURRENT FORM IN NUMBERS

THE OPPOSITION'S STRENGTHS

Éric Roy tends to set his side up in a 4-3-3 formation. In goal, Netherlands international Marco Bizot has established himself as one of the Breton side's key men, while in front of him, captain Brendan Chardonnet will naturally take to the Parc des Princes pitch tomorrow, accompanied in all likelihood by another Brittany-born player, Julien Le Cardinal. On the right side of defence, former Strasbourg man Kenny Lala remains untouchable, while another experienced French full-back, Jordan Amavi, is expected to start on the opposite flank. Amavi, who joined Brest on a permanent basis in the summer, appears to sit ahead of Luck Zogbé in the SB29 pecking order.

In midfield, the Brest coaching staff certainly aren't short of options despite Pierre Lees-Melou's injury. In the engine room, Hugo Magnetti could well be preferred to Jonas Martin, although the ex-Montpellier player remains a credible alternative, while slightly further up the pitch, the indispensable Mahdi Camara is expected to start tomorrow's game in the box-to-box role that he is so fond of. Finally, the last spot in the centre of the park could be filled by a more attacking-minded player, with Romain Faivre and Mathias Pereira Lage among the favourites there. However, a certain Kamory Doumbia may well upset the apple cart; after joining Les Ty'Zefs permanently on the final day of the summer transfer window, there's a chance that the Mali international will make his first appearance of the season for the Breton club against Paris.

In attack, the lively Romain Del Castillo will undoubtedly start on the right wing, although Senegal international Abdallah Sima could come off the bench to take up this position midway through the game. That being said, the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee is also able to play on the left.

If Doumbia were to start in midfield tomorrow, though, Faivre may be asked to start further up the pitch, while Ibrahim Salah, who arrived in northwestern France on loan from Stade Rennais FC in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, will very probably earn his first few minutes of game time for his new team at the Parc des Princes. As a result, Brest have competition for places not only on the wings but also in the middle, where regular starter Ludovic Ajorque will now be challenged by Mama Baldé, another last-minute summer reinforcement, this time from Olympique Lyonnais.

So, Les Parisiens have been warned; there's more than one source of danger in this Brest team.