Brest vs Clermont prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-12-02 14:00.
After a three-week hiatus caused by the rescheduling of their game prior to the international break owing to the impact of Storm Ciáran, Brest marked their return to competitive action with a 3-1 triumph over Montpellier on Sunday. That victory put an end to a troubling run of three consecutive defeats, yet the celebratory mood was marred by an incident in which Brest's team bus was targeted with stones as it left the Stade de la Mosson.
Manager Éric Roy will welcome a return to the Stade Francis Le Blé, where the Pirates have lost only two of their last 11 matches (W7, D2). That sequence includes a 2-1 win against Clermont in May, a result that extended Brest’s H2H unbeaten streak to nine meetings (W5, D4) whether home or away.
Visiting Clermont were left frustrated in their replayed match in midweek as Montpellier scored an 87th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot to ensure that the spoils were shared (1-1). Consequently, the Lanciers are looking anxiously over their shoulder as they find themselves only three points above bottom-of-the-table Lyon ahead of the round, but boss Pascal Gastien remains positive, emphasising that they "lost this game" when it was halted in early October with Montpellier 4-2 up.
This season is turning out to be a challenging one for Clermont, who enter this encounter with only two victories in 13 Ligue 1 games (D4, L7). Playing away from the Stade Gabriel-Montpied won’t bother Gastien’s men too much, as they’ve picked up 60% of their Ligue 1 points this term on their travels (W1, D3, L2) and are in a minority of sides performing better on the road.
Key battle: Steve Mounié will relish a return to familiar surroundings, having netted 16 of his last 18 goals for Brest at home, including the winner against Clermont in May. He will have to get past goalkeeper Mory Diaw, who has made 59 saves for Clermont this season, a joint-league high.
Hot stat: Brest are the only Ligue 1 team yet to score in the opening 40 minutes of a home match in 2023/24.