Brest vs St Etienne Prediction & Betting Tips (31 August)

Far from being expected to join the fight for the podium last year, Stade Brestois nevertheless took 3rd final place in the ranking behind PSG and AS Monaco and will therefore have to compete in the Champions League starting next month. This reward could well be a real poisoned chalice for this team which is not really equipped to fight on two fronts, and even less for the biggest European competition. We have already seen this during the first two days which were very difficult for the Finisterians. They were in fact largely beaten at home by Marseille 1-5 before suffering another setback against Lens 2-0 with a score that could have been even heavier. In the standings, Eric Roy's men find themselves bringing up the rear.

Opposite, AS Saint-Etienne is making its comeback in the elite after spending two rather difficult years at the lower level. Last year, the Forez players secured 3rd place in Ligue 2 behind Auxerre and Angers before dismissing Rodez in the play-offs then FC Metz in the play-offs to return to Ligue 1 with the firm intention of getting there install more securely. However, this is not the way for the Greens who have already experienced 2 poor performances. Indeed, they were first dominated by AS Monaco 1-0 before being beaten again last weekend, this time by Le Havre 0-2.

Stade Brestois logically had to face attacks from other teams after its good season. The center forward Mounié (6 goals, Augsburg) and the very good defender Brassier (Marseille) and the replacement Lebeau (Hansa Rostock) notably packed their bags, as did the Uruguayan Satriano (4 goals, 4 assists) who returned in Italy before leaving for Lens. All loaned last season, the young Doumbia (Reims, 6 goals last season) and the less important Bilal Brahimi (Nice) were unable to continue with the Bretons. The latter, on the other hand, brought in defender Ndiaye (Troyes), playmaker Faivre (Bournemouth, loan), winger Sima (Brighton, loan) and striker Ajorque (Mainz, loan). The left side Amavi was definitely purchased. Victim of a ruptured Achilles tendon, Bradley Locko will miss a large part of this new season. The excellent Pierre-Lees Melou, quite seriously injured at the end of last season, and the replacement midfielder M'Bock will also have to be patient in the infirmary. Defensive recruit Ndiaye must serve one final match of suspension.

A real driving force in the second half of last season, Irvin Cardona (9 goals and 3 assists decisive) left Forez for Espanyol Barcelona (on loan from Augsburg to new). Wingers Mbuku (4 goals) and Stéphane Diarra also had to pack their bags as did the less used Rivera (Dunkirk), the excellent Chambost (Colombus, 6 goals, 7 assists), defender Nade (free) and replacement goalkeeper Etienne Green (Burnley). Conversely, goalkeeper Maubleau (Grenoble), winger Davitashvili (Bordeaux), midfielders Boakye (Wolfsberger) and Miladinovic (11 goals and assists in the Serbian championship last season), the full-back Cornud (Maccabi Haifa), the winger Old (Wellington) and the very experienced Abdelhamid (Reims) were recruited by the Saint-Etienne board. The Greens will also count on the very valuable midfielder Cafaro (4 goals, 8 assists) and top scorer Sissoko (12 goals) which extended the adventure. A priori, the very good midfielder Moueffek (6 goals), the replacement defender Bentayg and the more importantly Pétrot are still not fit. The latest recruit Cornud is hoped for this poster while the midfielder Monconduit, the young Moroccan Bouchouari (departing) and defender Briançon do not seem to be part of Olivier Dall'Oglio's plans.