Brest Marseille prediction 2024-02-18

Brest vs Marseille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-02-17 19:45.
Since rallying from 2-0 down away to reigning Ligue 1 champions PSG in late January to snatch a valuable point in their quest for Champions League football next season, Brest have since struggled to return to winning ways. Despite remaining ten unbeaten in the French top-flight (W6, D4), Eric Roy’s side have now drawn their last three league matches in succession, a run which has seen them drop out of the all-important top three positions.

Having lost just one of their ten home league games this term (W5, D4), a return to Stade Francis Le Blé should offer Brest more confidence as they go in search of revenge for their 2-0 loss in August’s reverse H2H against Marseille. The Pirates will hope that another strong defensive performance can be the bedrock for that, as they’ve kept three consecutive clean sheets on home soil and four across their last five.

Visiting Marseille have had far less time to prepare for this match after drawing 2-2 with Shakhtar Donetsk in UEFA Europa League action in midweek at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. Despite taking a 2-1 lead in the 90th minute, the French outfit had to eventually settle for a draw – a result which stretched their winless run across all competitions to six matches (D4, L2).

Not only has that winless streak seen Marseille dumped out of the Coupe de France, but they’ve also lost vital ground in their bid for European qualification again this term, beginning this round five points adrift of the top five. A return to form is unlikely to come on the road too, as only relegation-threatened Lorient (6) have taken fewer than Marseille’s seven points away from home in the French top-flight this season (W1, D4, L5)!

Players to watch: Four of Romain Del Castillo’s five Ligue 1 goals this season have come at home, although he’s failed to score in seven previous H2Hs. Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has 13 goal involvements (G6, A7) in 21 league appearances this campaign, with five of his six strikes coming before half time.

Hot stat: Marseille are averaging 5.86 corners per match this season – the most of any side in Ligue 1.