The preview: Brest-Paris

A look at the league table 

After a victory against RC Strasbourg Alsace (3-0) following the international break, Paris Saint-Germain have 18 points after 9 league matches. The club from the capital sit two points behind AS Monaco, the league leader, and one point behind second-place team, Nice.

As for Stade Brestois 29, the Bretons had an ideal start to the season before encountering some difficulties in their last two matches. SB29 recently drew at home against Toulouse FC (1-1) and fell to a narrow defeat at Lille (1-0) last week. However, with a total of 15 points after 9 matches, the Breton club have seen their successful start to the season reward them with a spot in 5th place in the league.

The last encounter between the sides

The two teams faced each other on Matchday 27 back on 11 March at the Stade Francis-Le Blé. Les Parisiens quickly gained the upper hand with overwhelming dominance in the first quarter of the game, but the Breton defence held firm against attempts from Carlos Soler and Marco Verratti. It wasn't until the end of the first half that Soler opened the scoring for the club from the capital: following a long-range shot by Kylian Mbappé that was parried by Bizot, the Spanish international reacted faster than his opponents and smashed the ball under the crossbar (0-1, 36'). However, Brest were not willing to head into half-time trailing, and Franck Honorat equalised with a powerful shot after holding off the Paris defence just before the break (1-1, 43').

In the second half, the Brest goalkeeper would come to his team's rescue on multiple occasions. First, he made a save to stop a curled shot by Léo Messi, and then he denied Nuno Mendes a few minutes later. The Portuguese international dummied to switch to his right foot and shoot, but Bizot once again made a crucial save. It took until the end of the 90 minutes for the breakthrough to come. Set on his way by Messi on a counter-attack, Mbappé took advantage of a defensive mix-up from Brest to dribble past Bizot and score into the empty net, securing the victory for Paris Saint-Germain (1-2, 90').

 The opposition's strengths

Eric Roy and his team predominantly employ two tactical formations: a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1. In goal, Marco Bizot is the unquestioned starter. The Dutch goalkeeper boasts a save percentage of 77.8% this season, which is the 5th highest in the league. In front of him, Brendan Chardonnet and Lillian Brassier form a central defensive partnership that appears unshakable. The former serves as the team's captain and has played every match for his team so far this season, while the latter has become an integral part of the team. Together, they have won no fewer than 36 aerial duels this season, with a success rate of 70%.

On the right side of defence, Kenny Lala has made the position his own. The former Strasbourg man is progressively returning to his best years in Ligue 1, which he spent in Alsace. With 18 successful tackles, he is the second-best Brest player in this aspect, just behind Pierre Lees-Melou. On the opposite side, young Bradley Locko has made his mark. With 14 interceptions, he also ranks second in this category among the Brest squad.

In midfield, there are four players competing for three starting positions. But if there's one player who stands out, it's Frenchman Pierre Lees-Melou. In excellent form since the beginning of the season, the former Nice man is the playmaker of this Brest team. Averaging 70 touches per match since the start of the season, he is, in fact, the player with most touches within the Brest squad. Alongside him, Hugo Magnetti is also expected to start the match. Very effective in his role, the French midfielder has been one of the positive surprises of Brest's start to the season.

The last place in midfield is expected to be contested between Jonas Martin and Mahdi Camara. The former Lille player is in his first season with Brest and brings his experience to the Breton team, while the former Saint-Étienne man will be returning from suspension and aim to regain his spot in the starting eleven.

In attack, SB29's game relies on two well-known wingers in France: Jérémy Le Douaron on the left flank and Romain Del Castillo on the right wing. The former has started every match this year and continues to build on his positive momentum from last season (10 goals and 3 assists). As for the latter, he has already proven decisive 5 times since the start of the season with 3 goals and 2 assists.

There are two candidates to lead the line. The experienced Steve Mounié appeared as the most likely option at the beginning of the season, given his well-known qualities, especially in the air (the Beninese international has won 33 aerial duels this season, the highest total for any player in the league). However, recently, the Uruguayan international Martin Satriano has started to gain his coach's confidence. He therefore remains a viable option to start the match against Les Parisiens.

VITINHA - PIERRE-LEES MELOU: THE DUEL OF THE MATCh 

They will engage in a crucial battle in the heart of the midfield. On Sunday, Vitinha and Pierre Lees-Melou will each try to guide their team to victory. The Paris Saint-Germain central midfielder is having a strong start to the season under the guidance of Luis Enrique. With a 71.4% successful dribble rate, the Portuguese international has improved his technical skills to earn his place in the club from the capital's starting eleven. His ability to push forward is equally essential, as seen in his 32 moves leading to a shot since the beginning of the season in the league.

As for Pierre Lees-Melou, the Brest midfielder is the true linchpin of his team. Involved in both defensive and attacking duties, the SB29 player is in great form. This is evident in his 93 recoveries this season in Ligue 1, the highest total among in the league. However, Pierre Lees-Melou doesn't just recover balls; he also plays a key role in using it. With 29 actions leading to a shot, he is often the instigator of Brest's attacks. He's a player that Les Parisiens will need to control on Sunday if they want to leave Finistère with a victory.