Brest take on Nice in Ligue 1 on Wednesday with the two sides separated by a solitary point in the table.
The visitors do have a game in hand on their forthcoming opponents, though, with both sides able to move into the top half with a positive result.
Match preview
© Reuters
Brest failed to win any of their last three games prior to the winter break, albeit all of which were against sides above them in the table, so Olivier Dall'Oglio will be hoping his side can get back to winning ways on Wednesday.
Having been 14th in their first season back in France's top flight before all French football was curtailed due to COVID-19 last season, an improvement on that position would surely be seen as a respectable achievement for a club which had previously spent five consecutive seasons in Ligue 2.
However, there is little doubt that there is genuine offensively quality within Brest's ranks, with Romain Faivre and former Huddersfield Town striker Steve Mounie two of six players to have scored three or more league goals this season. Indeed, only four sides have scored more goals than Dall'Oglio's side this campaign.
Defensively, though, there is cause for concern given that only three sides have conceded more goals, but with an 11-point cushion ahead of the relegation zone, Dall'Oglio may feel content that his team are entertaining fans and neutrals alike on their way to probable survival.
© Reuters
Nice, meanwhile, have failed to live up to expectations after earning a Europa League qualification spot last season, leading to the dismissal of former Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira last month.
Adrian Ursea was initially drafted in as an interim replacement, but has since been handed the managerial role on a full-time basis. The former Servette boss has not exactly dramatically improved results, earning five points from his five games in charge.
There appears to be a disciplinary problem at the club, too, with two red cards in their last three games. However, Nice avoided defeat in both of their games, illustrating their mental resolve and undoubted quality on the books.
Ursea will be hoping that the New Year can bring improved results with it, otherwise a first bottom-half finish since the 2014-15 campaign is on the cards for a club previously on an upward trajectory.
Brest Ligue 1 form: WLWDDL
Nice Ligue 1 form: LDLWLD
Nice form (all competitions): DLLWLD
Team News
© Reuters
Brest will be without Denys Bain and Jeremy Le Douaron due to injury for the visit of Nice.
Ronael Pierre-Gabriel and Jean-Kevin Duverne are both at risk of suspension, with one more yellow card leading to a one-match ban for the pair.
Nice have no Racine Coly or Dante for the trip to Brest, with Robson Bambu suspended after his dismissal in the draw against Lorient.
Stanley Nsoki is likely to come into the heart of the defence as a replacement for Bambu.
Brest possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Pierre-Gabriel, Duverne, Herelle, Perraud; Faivre, Belkebla, Mbock, Honorat; Cardona, Mounie
Nice possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Daniliuc, Nsoki, Pelmard; Attal, Schneiderlin, Thuram, Lotomba; Boudaoui, Reine-Adelaide; Lopes
We say: Brest 2-2 Nice
Brest have been stronger at home this season with Nice better on the road, so it should be an intriguing battle on Wednesday.
We can envisage an entertaining score draw, with Brest one of the league's most goal-friendly sides at either end of the pitch this season.
Top betting tip
Brett Curtis
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Brest win with a probability of 37.19%. A win for Nice had a probability of 37.15% and a draw had a probability of 25.7%.
The most likely scoreline for a Brest win was 1-0 with a probability of 8.91%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.3%) and 2-0 (6.08%). The likeliest Nice win was 0-1 (8.9%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.15%). The actual scoreline of 2-0 was predicted with a 6.1% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Brest would win this match.
