Brest vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-22 16:45.
[p]Brest have found balancing domestic and European demands tough going, sitting mid-table in Ligue 1 after a decisively average start (W3, D1, L4). They’ve perhaps been focusing their efforts more towards the UEFA Champions League (UCL), where they’ve won both games this term, results which mean that they come into this latest round of European action sitting second in the 36-team table! [/p]
[p]That’s scarcely believable in what is their first-ever European campaign, but that record will come under great scrutiny against German champions Bayer Leverkusen. Overcoming Leverkusen would see Brest become the first French side in history to win their maiden three games in the European Cup/UCL, and with four wins from their last five home games (D1), they’ll surely fancy their chances of overcoming their outsider status in this game. [/p]
[p]Unbeaten in seven games in all competitions (W5, D2), and also with a 100% winning record in the UCL so far (W2), Leverkusen will be keen to spoil the party in Brest. Xabi Alonso’s men are yet to even concede a goal in Europe this season, but with their clean sheet in a 1-0 win against AC Milan on matchday two their only shut out across their last five matches, their defence isn’t quite as impenetrable as that may suggest. [/p]
[p]Travelling to France could prove to be their undoing here, as Leverkusen have won only one of their five UCL away matches in this country (D1, L3). That win came all the way back in September 2001, but there’s perhaps no better time than now to end that run, as Alonso’s men have won eight of their last 12 European away games (D3, L1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Romain Del Castillo opened the scoring for Brest at the weekend with his third successive goal to arrive from the penalty spot. Florian Wirtz turned in a Flashscore man of the match performance at the weekend despite playing just 27 minutes – five of his six Leverkusen goals this season came on the road. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Leverkusen’s last four games against French opposition saw both teams score 2+ goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]