Brest vs Real Madrid prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-28 20:00.
[p]Brest made a flying start to their UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign, but two defeats across their last three league phase games means a top-eight finish may now elude them (W4, D1, L2). Despite losing 2-0 last week to Shakhtar Donetsk, the French outfit are guaranteed a place in the knockout phase play-offs, a huge achievement in their first ever European campaign.[/p]
[p]They close the league phase against reigning champions Real Madrid, but having already lost to Barcelona this term, the Pirates could become the first UCL debutants to lose to both sides in one European campaign since Leeds in 2000/01. They’ll be hoping to avoid that fate having impressively gone unbeaten across their three UCL home games so far (W2, D1).[/p]
[p]In contrast to their hosts, Real Madrid started their European campaign slowly but improved as the season went on and are now just one point behind Brest (W4, L3). Like their opponents, Carlo Ancelotti’s men are guaranteed a play-off spot but hope a win here can take them directly into the round of 16 after crushing Salzburg 5-1 on matchday seven.[/p]
[p]Los Blancos bring a significant goal threat to France having netted 17 times in four matches (W4), with that sequence including Saturday’s 3-0 La Liga win over Real Valladolid. But after losing two of their three UCL away fixtures this term (W1) – including one in France (1-0 v Lille) – they have reasons to be wary, particularly as they’ve also lost half of their UCL away games in the country (W5, D2, L7). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Abdallah Sima is Brest’s top scorer in the UCL with three goals, two of which came after half-time in victories for the Pirates. After netting a hat-trick against Valladolid, Madrid’s Kylian MbappĂ© returns to his homeland having scored nine goals in ten previous appearances against Brest – four of the last six coming between the 25th and 40th minute.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: There have been either one or two goals scored before half-time in all seven of Brest’s UCL games this term (Brest HT: W3, D2, L2).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]