Preview: Paris v. Brest

a look at the table

Thanks to their 2-0 victory away to RC Lens in their first Ligue 1 game since the winter break, Paris Saint-Germain have continued their scintillating domestic run, racking up a total of 43 points from their 18 league fixtures so far – including ten wins in their last 11 – while Les Rouge et Bleu also hold an eight-point lead over second-placed Nice, who fell to defeat away to Rennes last time out.

Brest, meanwhile, have well and truly established themselves as the French top flight's surprise package this season. With 34 points from 18 games, the Brittany-based side have now moved up to third in the Ligue 1 table and are in spectacular form after beating Montpellier HSC 2-0 in their last league outing, with eight wins in their last nine games across all competitions aside from a 1-1 draw with RC Strasbourg Alsace. A stiff test therefore awaits Les Parisiens this weekend.

THE TWO TEAMS' CURRENT FORM IN NUMBERS

On Sunday night at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain will look to pick up their 11th win in 12 Ligue 1 matches as well as a seventh consecutive top-flight victory on home soil. So far, Les Parisiens have done particularly well against Brest, having remained unbeaten in their last 26 encounters with them across all competitions, recording 19 wins and seven draws since a 3-1 defeat on 26th January 1985. What's more, Brest are the team that PSG have faced the most often whilst enjoying an 100% win percentage (14/14) against them in the capital club's QSI era.

However, the Bretons can also make a case for themselves, not only thanks to their aforementioned total of 34 points from 18 games – their highest tally at this stage of a top-flight season ever since the "three points for a win" system was introduced – but also because SB29 have picked up the most points (19) of any Ligue 1 team since last November's international break, earning six wins and one draw in that time, as well as scoring the most goals (16) and conceding the fewest (2) in the top flight across the same period. As their current run of four straight clean sheets in the league shows, Brest are a solid but attacking side.

THE OPPOSITION'S STRENGTHS

Éric Roy and his side mostly set up in a 4-3-3 formation. In goal, Netherlands international Marco Bizot is enjoying a successful season with a save rate of 80.5% so far this campaign, while over on the right side of defence, Kenny Lala appears to be untouchable, as the French full-back has yet to miss a single minute of game time in 2023–2024. At centre-back, captain Brendan Chardonnet is naturally expected to start the encounter alongside Lilian Brassier, while Julien Le Cardinal remains uncertain in this position.

The left side of defence, meanwhile, is likely to be occupied by France U21 international Bradley Locko, who has performed particularly well this season, while Jordan Amavi is still out injured. In midfield, the indispensable Pierre Lees-Melou should be accompanied by Hugo Magnetti and former Saint-Étienne man Mahdi Camara, who has made five goal contributions so far in 2023–2024 (two goals and three assists). Despite being slightly lower down the pecking order, ex-Montpellier midfielder Jonas Martin remains a credible option for the Breton side, while Kamory Doumbia, who has racked up five goals and two assists so far this campaign, is currently at the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali.

When it comes to the attacking line, Romain Del Castillo (five goals and four assists in 2023–2024) is expected to feature on the right wing. The Olympique Lyonnais academy graduate, who is one of the cornerstones of Brest's starting XIs, has incidentally attempted the most dribbles (105) of any player in Ligue 1 this season. Meanwhile, the slightly less mazy but equally important Jérémy Le Douaron (four goals and one assist in 2023–2024) should start on the left flank in favour of Mathias Pereira Lage (three goals and one assist in 2023–2024). Finally, Steve Mounié (three goals and three assists in 2023–2024) and Martín Satriano (three goals and one assist in 2023–2024) will be vying for the centre-forward spot, although the Benin international currently seems to be the preferred option. So, it's fair to say that this Sunday's game looks to be a very promising one indeed...