Clermont vs Brest prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-02-10 14:00.
Although he is widely expected to step down as Clermont manager in the summer, Pascal Gastien’s fate may well be taken out of his hands. The 60-year old, comfortably the longest serving current boss in the French top-flight after taking the reins in 2017, has seen his side slip to the foot of Ligue 1 after a run of one win in their last nine league games (D3, L5), putting their three-year stint in the division at risk.
The Lancers’ most recent fixture offered little hope of a revival, as they suffered their joint-heaviest league defeat since August 2022 in losing 4-0 to Lille. That was the sixth time in their last 11 matches across all competitions in which Clermont have conceded at least twice, but the other end of the field is just as big a concern, given no team in Ligue 1 has scored fewer than their 14 goals.
That will be music to the ears of opponents Brest, who have kept six clean sheets across their last nine league and cup outings (W6, D2, L1). Such form means the Pirates remain one of the surprise packages in European football, heading into this round in the top-three despite never previously qualifying for a UEFA competition.
Their last league outing was a 0-0 draw against fellow top-three contenders Nice, a ninth Ligue 1 match without defeat (W6, D3). Four of those games have been on the road (W3, D1), meaning Eric Roy’s side have a chance to make it five successive unbeaten top-flight away fixtures for the first time since the end of 2021. History suggests they should be confident of doing so as well, as Brest are unbeaten in the last ten H2Hs (W6, D4).
Players to watch: If anybody is likely to score for Clermont, it’s striker Shamar Nicholson, who has netted in three of his last four games, while losing just one of his last 19 goalscoring appearances (W15, D3). Attempting to outgun him will be Brest’s Romain Del Castillo, who has scored more goals against Clermont than any other opponent, four times in eight H2Hs (W6, D2).
Hot stat: Brest have conceded a joint-low six second half goals in Ligue 1 this season.