Brest aim to end a two-game winless run in Ligue 1 when they travel to relegation-threatened Lorient in Sunday's gameweek 27 fixture at Stade du Moustoir.
The home side hope to build on the creditable point secured at Monaco before the international break, while the second-placed visitors seek maximum points after picking up one from six before the hiatus.
Match preview
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While there may be a willingness to raise eyebrows because of Lorient's downturn in results, the fourth-bottom side's draw at Monaco a fortnight back was creditable.
Tiemoue Bakayoko's late leveller meant Regis Le Bris's men avoided a third defeat in four games (one win) heading into the break, and the 2-2 draw could be pivotal in the race to beat the drop.
With Nantes (25 points) and Metz (23) both losing in gameweek 26, Les Merlus go into this weekend a point and three ahead of the sides directly below them in the standings.
Nevertheless, Lorient's home form before hosting Brest leaves much to be desired, having suffered defeats to Nantes in a relegation six-pointer in February (1-0) and failing to score in their recent fixture against Lyon (2-0), which does not bode well for the hosts on Sunday.
Les Merlus have not gone three consecutive home matches without scoring since late 2020, and they hope to avoid that outcome against a side adept at dispatching clubs in their position with relative ease.
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Brest's results against clubs in the competition's bottom half are admirable, underscored by winning 33 points from an available 39 against teams currently positioned 10th to 18th in the standings.
Getting positive results against the division's under-strength sides possibly explains why the Pirates occupy second spot going into the campaign's final months, and they are all but guaranteed to outdo last season's 14th-placed finish.
This season's aim to end in the Champions League positions suffered a damaging loss to Lens on March 9, but they earned a point at home to Lille before the break courtesy of Martin Satriano's 79th-minute equaliser to cancel out Jonathan David's strike just after the hour.
Losing would have seen the Mastiffs close the gap on the side in second to one. However, four points still separate Brest from Lille and Nice (43 points apiece), while sixth-placed Lens are five adrift, meaning the Pirates are guaranteed a top-three position regardless of this weekend's results.
Nevertheless, Eric Roy will hope his team avoid dropping points on the road against another struggling team in the division, having recently failed to secure maximum points at bottom side Clermont (1-1).
Team News
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Aiyegun Tosin is Lorient's only absentee through suspension, having received a straight red in the 2-2 draw against Monaco a fortnight back.
The hosts have a few injury problems, with Formose Mendy, Quentin Boisgard, Igor Silva, Bonke Innocent and Montassar Talbi all expected to miss Sunday's encounter due to respective injuries.
Brest may have used the fewest players this term (23), but they must do without the suspended Pierre Lees-Melou, whose only non-appearance in 2023-24 came after accumulating multiple yellows.
The second-placed side have spread the goals across the team, underscored by Romain Del Castillo and Mahdi Camara leading the club's scoring charts.
Kamory Doumbia (also five goals) has been pivotal despite mostly making substitute appearances, and the Mali international, fresh from scoring against Nigeria this week, could impact Sunday's match off the bench.
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Adjei, Laporte, Mendy; Katseris, Abergel, Bakayoko, Le Bris; Kari, Ponceau; Bamba
Brest possible starting lineup:
Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Locko; Magnetti, Martin; Del Castillo, Camara, Lage; Satriano
We say: Lorient 1-2 Brest
While Brest have the third-best road record in Ligue 1 — and Lorient have the fourth-worst home return in the division — the Pirates' dearth of goals (16) in 13 away matches suggests Sunday's match will be tight.
Nevertheless, Roy's team are adept against struggling clubs, pointing to a narrow victory for the second-placed side.
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