Lyon vs Brest prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-01-31 20:00.
Victory over Ajaccio saw Lyon end a three-game winless streak in Ligue 1 (D1, L2), as manager Laurent Blanc desperately tries to get their faltering season back on track. While the 2-0 scoreline appeared comfortable, Les Gones weren’t exactly dominant, holding less than 50% possession and scoring with their only shots on target, leaving Blanc to hope they’ll be “better on the ball in the future”.
Improvements need to arrive fast if Lyon are to make up ground on the European places, with nine points currently separating them from the top-five. Lyon’s return of 28 points at this stage is their joint-lowest since 1997/98 and if their January transfer activity is anything to go by, the second half of the season doesn’t appear promising, with Tetê and Karl Toko Ekambi departing in this window, while Malo Gusto will at least remain with the club till the season end after signing for Chelsea.
Brest might represent perfectly-timed opposition then, as they’ve never won an away H2H meeting in any competition (D3, L8). They will make the journey south on the back of a positive result though, as they secured their joint-biggest Ligue 1 victory since 2019 by beating Angers 4-0. That result lifted the Pirates three points clear of the drop zone, as manager Eric Roy attempts to keep them in the top-flight for a fifth consecutive season.
Securing that goal may well depend on an improvement in away form, as Brest have won just one of their last eight league away games (D2, L5). A major factor in that run has been a leaky defence after half-time, with 76% of the goals they’ve conceded on the road arriving in the second period.
Players to watch: Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has scored 11 goals from his last 11 starts, and he’s never lost against Brest in his career (W2, D3). Brest’s Franck Honorat also heads into this contest in good form, having directly contributed to three of his side’s four goals against Angers (G1, A2).
Hot stat: Lyon are one of just two Ligue 1 sides yet to concede a goal in the 15 minutes following half-time at home this season.