Brest vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction & Betting Tips (23 October)

Announced as one of the Little Thumbs of this final phase of the Champions League, Stade Brestois made a resounding entry into the tournament. This Breton team was initially not afraid during the first match in its history in the most beautiful European competition, winning with authority against Sturm Graz 2-1. In search of confirmation, Eric Roy's players then delivered a recital on the pitch of RB Salzburg, winning with an incredible score of 0-4, showing quite insolent realism. Thanks to these two successes, the Ty-Zefs are in an incredible 2nd place which could allow them to consider qualifying for the next round or at least for the play-offs. However, it is more complicated in the championship for the Finisterians who are in the second half of the table despite their victory won before the break against Le Havre 2-0. Next weekend, Brest will host Stade Rennais to move into the first part of the standings.

Reigning German champion and undefeated throughout last season across the Rhine, Bayer Leverkusen impresses with its particularly flamboyant offensive play. For its return to the Champions League this year after a season of absence, the Usine 11 did not take any tweezers to outclass Feyenoord 0-4 on the first day before winning by a short header over AC Milan in the following match 1-0 to reach 4th position in this championship. In the Bundesliga, Xabi Alonso's men are not off to a bad start in defending their title despite their draws at the end of last month against Bayern Munich 1-1 and, more surprisingly, against Holstein Kiel 2-2 before the international break. Bayer will want to resume their march forward next weekend against Eintracht Frankfurt to try to get back on the podium of the German championship.

On the Brest side, we will still have to do without the starting left side Locko who should not be able to play before next spring. The young Ivorian defender Zogbé was not included on the list of players authorized to play in the competition. Having been in the recovery phase for a long time, essential midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou returned to the field before the international break. Discarded during the last day, the full-back Amavi should apply for him. Against Salzburg, summer recruit Sima stood out by scoring twice and she already has 3 goals in the competition but she then joined the infirmary. If he has not yet scored, the pivot Ajorque (2 assists) is very valuable, as are the midfielders Magnetti and Camara who will certainly start.

Leverkusen could travel to Roudourou almost in full force for this meeting. Bayer should just be deprived of the young nugget Wirtz (4 goals in the Bundesliga + 2 goals in C1) who was affected with the German selection at the start of last week. Boniface (3 goals in the Bundesliga), who scored the only goal of the match against AC Milan on the last day, will be present. Also expected to take their place on the field are the excellent pistons Grimaldo and Frimpong, the former Rennais Martin Terrier as well as the excellent midfielders Xhaka and Andrich, Swiss and German internationals. To see if Xabi Alonso will allow himself to rotate his squad against an opponent who he could judge to be weaker than during the last two days.