Barcelona vs Brest prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-25 20:00.
[p]Four minutes of mayhem on Saturday saw Barcelona get reduced to ten men and then concede twice to draw 2-2 against Celta Vigo. That was their first draw of the season as they missed the opportunity to bounce back from the surprise 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad before the international break. Barça now have their sights set on staying in the top-eight of the UEFA Champions League (UCL), where they reside after three successive 3+ goal margin victories after losing their opening game.[/p]
[p]They now face Brest for the first time ever, as the hosts chase history knowing they could become the fifth team to win at least four consecutive games by a 3+ goal margin in this competition. An aggregate of 25 goals over their last six games at their temporary home of Estadi OlĂmpic LluĂs Companys would suggest Barcelona could well secure that piece of history.[/p]
[p]Brest are unlikely to be easy pushovers, as they start this round in the top-four of the league phase table, and are one of the six teams yet to lose in this UCL campaign (W3, D1), earning themselves a shot at history by extending that run. A point here will be enough for the visitors to become the first French team since Bordeaux over 20 years ago to not lose any of their first five games in this competition – a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact this is their first-ever European campaign.[/p]
[p]Recent form won’t inspire much hope, as they’ve won just once across the last four games (L3) and a 3-2 defeat to Monaco on Friday leaves them closer to the relegation spots than the top-six in Ligue 1. A positive start here could calm nerves, and that can’t be ruled out, as the Pirates have scored a first-half goal in each of their four UCL matches.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Raphinha has 15 goal contributions (G8, A7) across his last nine club games including a hat-trick in Barcelona’s last home UCL match against Bayern Munich. Abdallah Sima could be Brest’s best hope – he scored their first goal against Monaco and has three goals in three UCL games this season.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Barcelona have scored nine goals in the 31-60 minute period in this UCL campaign, but Brest have conceded just once in that period.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]