The Ligue 1 campaign resumes on Wednesday, with Brest in search of back-to-back domestic triumphs for the first time all season when they host Lyon at Stade Francis Le Ble.
Before the World Cup break, Brest dug themselves out of relegation thanks to a 2-1 victory over Troyes, while Lyon drew their previous league fixture 1-1 versus Nice.
Match preview
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In a season which had been downhill for a long time, the club from Brittany have a reason for optimism as 2022 comes to a close.
Following the sacking of Michel Der Zakarian, Stade Brestois appointed Bruno Grougi as the caretaker manager, and the 39-year-old has more points in five domestic encounters (seven) than his predecessor collected in their opening 10 league games of 2022-23 (six).
While they are in a better position at the moment, Brest find themselves above the relegation line by the thinnest of margins, leading Auxerre thanks to a superior goal difference.
Their form domestically has improved, but they come into this encounter fresh off a pair of subpar efforts, dropping two friendlies this month, conceding three goals versus both Osasuna (3-0) and Rennes (3-0).
When facing Olympique Lyonnais at home, this side have collected their share of points, losing just two of the previous 11 league outings against them, though they have only emerged victorious in one of their last six home games versus les Gones this century.
A victory on Wednesday would mark the first time this club had ever won consecutive meetings against Lyon in the French top-flight, as Les Pirates won this exact fixture last season 2-1.
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Lyon have made numerous changes both on and off the field, though this team have yet to meet their lofty expectations in 2022-23.
Under the guidance of former World Cup champion Laurent Blanc, OL have points in three of their last five league matches, sitting eighth in the table, seven points back of a European place next season.
After 15 matches in this competition, they have the same number of points as they had at this stage a season ago (21), the first time since the mid to late 90s that Lyon has had at least two top-flight campaigns with such a low number of points this early on.
If not for some late heroics in some of their recent domestic outings, this team could be in a much worse position than they are at the moment.
They salvaged a point with an 89th-minute penalty to draw Nice (1-1) in their previous league game, while a 74th-minute strike and one in the 90th minute allowed them to defeat Lille (1-0) and Montpellier (2-1), respectively.
That triumph over Montpellier is their only one away from home so far this season, and it put an end to a four-match losing run on the road for them in league play.
Lyon have won five of their six domestic affairs when scoring multiple goals but have only managed to do that in two of their seven away fixtures played this season.
Team News
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In their previous domestic outing, Brest found the back of the net three times as Romain Del Castillo and captain Steve Mounie scored from the penalty spot, with an own goal from their defender Brendan Chardonnet in between.
Irvin Cardona has three goals in his career versus OL, including the winner in their previous home fixture against them, Franck Honorat has just two goals in this current campaign after leading them with 11 in 2021-22, while Mahdi Camara has started the last three league encounters after joining the team on loan from Saint-Etienne in late August.
Jere Uronen could be a game-time decision for this one due to a muscle injury, while there were two newcomers in the opening lineup against Troyes, with Mathias Pereira Lage and Islam Slimani replacing Haris Belkebla and Jeremy Le Douaron.
Alexandre Lacazette has had a terrific season in his return to Les Gones, scoring five goals in his previous five domestic affairs, Castello Lukeba had their only strike when they lost 2-1 in a friendly versus Monza last Thursday, Corentin Tolisso had the lone strike for them in a 1-1 exhibition draw with Sochaux, while Moussa Dembele notched a hat-trick when they defeated OH Leuven 5-3 in a friendly at the beginning of December.
Romain Faivre is searching for his first start of the season since September, with the 24-year-old scoring seven league goals as a member of Brest before signing with Lyon midway through the previous campaign, Karl Toko Ekambi is looking for his first goal since September and Camilo is scheduled to return to the club by the end of the year following a loan spell at Cuiaba in Brazil.
Jerome Boateng is not expected to return from his knee injury until early January, as Sinaly Diomande replaced him in their last domestic encounter versus Nice.
In that game, Dembele took the place of Toko Ekambi in the attack, and Tete drew into the lineup with Johann Lepenant relegated to the bench.
Brest possible starting lineup:
Bizot; Herelle, Chardonnet, Brassier, Duverne; Camara, Belkebla, Lees-Melou; Del Castillo, Mounie, Honorat
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Gusto, Diomande, Lukeba, Tagliafico; Faivre, Mendes, Aouar; Tolisso; Lacazette, Dembele
We say: Brest 1-1 Lyon
Despite having plenty of experienced players and lots of quality, Lyon still seem to be searching for their identity under Blanc.
Brest do not possess nearly as much talent on paper as their opponents but have been sharper along the back end at home in league play, and they seem to be able to handle OL when they come to town.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
