Soccer France Ligue 1 Prediction

Marseille vs Brest - Match Preview

⚽ 27 May 2023 - 19:00 GMT +0

Having all but surrendered the pursuit of second place with their 2-1 defeat at Lille last weekend, Marseille will most likely have to settle for third place and an earlier season start in the Champions League qualifiers as a consequence. The Olympians’ final league position could even be settled by matters elsewhere in the likely scenario that Lens defeat Ajaccio in this round, so Marseille could play out the final two games with little stress.

The top two were in Marseille’s grasp until just three games ago (W1, L2), so a return to the solid unbeaten eight-game form prior to that would be welcomed by in-demand head coach Igor Tudor. A handful of goals may be necessary to sign off Marseille’s home campaign with a win, as they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten competitive home games despite winning each of the last three.

Much like their hosts, Brest has precious little to play for after an incredible run of one defeat from their last nine games has ensured their survival in the top flight with games to spare (W5, D3, L1). There’s no possible way that Brest can finish in the top half now, so building on their momentum ahead of the off-season and potentially sneaking one place higher is their only realistic aim.

Playing away from home could stifle Brest in that ambition as they’ve run out winners just once in their last nine away trips (W1, D5, L3). Whilst that form may look solid if uninspiring, perhaps the fact that Brest has lost in each of their league trips to top-six opposition whilst conceding two goals per match on average could be telling.

📋 Players to watch: The topic of Alexis Sánchez’s future at Marseille is coming to the fore, yet he’ll be more concerned about adding to his best goal haul (G14) in league action since 2016/17, in what could be his final home appearance. Jérémy Le Douaron is the only Brest player in double figures for league goals this season (G10), a run which includes the decisive goal in four of his side’s last five victories.

⚡ Hot stat: After 36 rounds, both teams have scored in a joint league-high 14 of Marseille’s home games (78%).