Ahead of the match against Stade Brestois 29 on Matchday 20 of Ligue 1 at the Stade Francis Le Blé, we take a closer look at the upcoming encounter at the tip of Finistère. We review the standings, the dynamics and the players to watch, and take a look at the match that awaits our Parisians against a Brestois side in confident mood at their home ground.
an update on the table
After a mixed start to the league season, SB29 have been on the rise again in recent weeks. With 7 wins out of their last 9 matches in all competitions, the Bretons are back in the top half of Ligue 1, in 8th place, and their ambitions are growing. Despite failing to pull off an upset against Real Madrid in the Champions League two days ago (0-3), the Ty-Zefs have won their last three league matches: against Lyon (2-1), Rennes (1-2) and Le Havre (0-1).
For their part, Paris Saint-Germain have started 2025 as they finished 2024: with wins. In the Coupe de France and Champions League, of course, as they did at Stuttgart on Wednesday (1-4), but also in Ligue 1. The capital club beat Saint-Étienne (2-1) and Lens (1-2), before being held 1-1 by Reims last week. Against Brest, the Parisians will be keen to get back on track and maintain their furious pace at the top of the league, where they already have 47 points after 19 games.
the dynamics in numbers
the opposition
Eric Roy and his team mainly play two systems: 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. In goal, Marco Bizot continues to act as Brest's last line of defence. The Dutch international should find himself behind a central defence made up of captain Brendan Chardonnet and promising 22-year-old Abdoulaye Ndiaye. On loan from ESTAC and trained at Olympique Lyonnais, the young Senegalese has recently been preferred to Soumaïla Coulibaly, who is on loan from Borussia Dortmund, while Julien Le Cardinal will be absent through injury. On the right side of defence, former Strasbourg man Kenny Lala is expected to start.
On the other side of the pitch, however, there is uncertainty. Still without Bradley Locko and Jordan Amavi, while Massadio Haïdara has only just returned to action, the Ty-Zefs are facing a real shortage of left-backs. Although new signing Justin Bourgault, who has just arrived from US Concarneau, could make an appearance in the Breton squad, it is another young player in the shape of Luck Zogbé (19) who is expected to face the Rouge et Bleu. The Côte d'Ivoire U-21 international has impressed in recent outings, at a time of the season when his club desperately need him. In midfield, Swiss international Edimilson Fernandes is the favourite to start in the holding role.
On loan from Mainz, he could play in support of the indispensable Hugo Magnetti and Mahdi Camara. Pierre Lees-Melou, a key member of the Brest team, seems to be back at last and is also in contention for a starting berth in a midfield where only Jonas Martin, who is still in doubt, could be missing. Romain Faivre (2 goals and 2 assists in all competitions this season) and Kamory Doumbia, comfortable in a playmaker's role, have a more attacking profile. The former can also play as a right midfielder, while the latter remains a credible alternative to start on the left wing.
The competition for places on the right flank will be fierce, with Mama Baldé (2 goals, 2 assists) and Romain Del Castillo (4 goals, 4 assists) also in contention. On the opposite flank, in addition to the option of Kamory Doumbia, Senegal international Abdallah Sima (7 goals, 2 assists) could be starting against the Parisians. Mathias Pereira Lage (2 goals, 2 assists) and Ibrahim Salah (1 goal, 1 assist), meanwhile, are less likely to start. The French coach therefore has a whole host of combinations to choose from, but it seems that he has already selected his reference point in attack: Ludovic Ajorque, scorer of eight goals and five assists so far this season.
