Brest vs Marseille Prediction & Betting Tips (17 August)

Very far from being expected to get involved in the fight for Europe last season, Stade Brestois nevertheless impressed and left its mark by achieving what remains the best season in its history. Under the orders of Eric Roy, the Bretons quickly established themselves on the podium of this championship and they practically never left it to finish in 3rd place in the final in Ligue 1. The residents of Stade Francis-le-Blé will compete so for the first time the Champions League this season and they will have a lot to do to try to perform both in Europe and on the national scene. To try to prepare as best as possible for the big events they will have to face, the Finistériens challenged Avranches victory 2-0, Lorient 1-1, Laval defeat 0-1, Naples, Juventus and Newcastle. Opposite, Olympique de Marseille, for their part, will want to quickly turn the page on a completely failed last season. Indeed, the semi-final disputed and lost against Atalanta in the Europa League did not save an exercise finished in 8th place in Ligue 1.

A real jump will therefore be expected from the Olympians who will not play the European Cup this year and who will therefore be able to concentrate all their efforts on the championship. Furthermore, the leaders have decided to appoint the very interesting De Zerbi at the head of the team who will have the difficult task of relaunching a team that has been very unstable in recent years. This summer, the Phocéens began their preparation with a defeat against Nîmes 0-2. They then resumed their march forward against Toulon 3-0 and Pau 3-0. They will still face Sunderland and Augsburg.

The very good season achieved by Stade Brestois has logically attracted attention and some executives of this team have already set sail. This is the case of center forward Mounié (6 goals, Augsburg) and the very good defender Brassier who took charge of Marseille. Replacement Lebeau left for Hansa Rostock. Loaned last season by Inter, the Uruguayan Satriano (4 goals, 4 assists) returned to Italy. Conversely, defender Le Cardinal was permanently enrolled from Lens and striker Mallorca arrived from Mainz. The Finisterians also recover defender Dari (Charleroi), midfielders M'Bock (Caen) and Dembélé (Blackpool) and striker Arconte (Rodez, 6 goals, 2 assists) who had been loaned during the last financial year. The latter, however, left again, towards Pau. A priori, midfielders Lees-Melou, Magnetti and Camara (7 goals, 3 assists) should remain key players in Eric Roy's system, just like the excellent Del Castillo (8 goals, 8 assists).

On the Marseille side, we has therefore been strengthened with the arrival of Brassier (Brest) who should start in the central hinge against his former club. He will compete with Bamo Meïté (Lorient) who has been permanently recruited while Canadian international Ismaël Koné (Watford) has been recruited in the midfield. We can also point out the arrivals of Franco-Danish midfielder Hojberg (Tottenham) and challenging winger Mason Greewood (Manchester United). In addition, full-backs Amavi (Brest) and Lirola (Fiorentina) are back after being loaned last season, as are wingers Mughe (Dunkerque) and de la Fuente (Eibar). Conversely, the very disappointing Ndiaye (Everton) and senior midfielder Pape Gueye (Villarreal) left the Marseille city. This is also the case for the disappointing Onana (Besiktas) and Correa (Inter) who returned to their respective clubs after their loan period and the right-back Clauss who signed with Nice. With 17 goals and 8 assists in the league, Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the only one to survive in an offensive sector in great difficulty but he left for Saudi Arabia.