MX23RW : Sunday, December 22 23:23:08| >> :600:227039:227039:
[monks data]
Brest logo
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 33
Apr 18, 2021 at 2pm UK
Stade Francis-Le Blé
Lens logo

Brest
1 - 1
Lens

Cahuzac (37' og.), Kakuta (72' pen.)
Bade (35'), Haidara (48'), Fortes (54'), Banza (59'), Clauss (63'), Lucas (87')
Haise (65'), Fortes (81'), Lucas (89'), Banza (89')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Brest vs. Lens - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Brest and Lens, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Brest take on Lens in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the visitors aiming to extend their impressive 11-match unbeaten league run and remain in fifth position in the table.

The home team, meanwhile, have a six-point cushion above the relegation zone, so cannot rest easy just yet.


Match preview

Brest manager Olivier Dall'Oglio pictured in February 2021© Reuters

Indeed, Brest missed a golden opportunity to almost end any of their lingering relegation fears by only drawing 1-1 at home to 18th-placed Nimes last weekend.

Victory would have meant securing a nine-point gap to Nimes and the bottom three, which with only six matches of the season remaining would surely have secured Olivier Dall'Aglio's side's safety for another season.

However, Moussa Kone got the visitors up and running in the 11th minute, before Brendan Chardonnet levelled the proceedings 15 minutes later.

Brest desperately pushed for a vital winner, having 22 shots and 64% possession across the match, but Nimes valiantly held on for a point.

Dall'Aglio will be eyeing their home match against 19th-placed Nantes at the beginning of May as another excellent opportunity to seal survival, but every point counts at this stage of the campaign and there is no reason why they cannot pick up at least one against in-form Lens on Sunday, especially with their recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Lens head coach Franck Haise pictured in October 2020© Reuters

However, Franck Haise's side are proving an incredibly tough nut for opponents to crack at the moment, with them enjoying a remarkable time of things in their first campaign back in France's top flight after gaining promotion last season.

Currently in the midst of a brilliant 11-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1, Sang et Or are three points ahead of sixth-placed Marseille and as such are looking like strong contenders to qualify for the Europa League next season.

Despite only having 37% possession across the 90 minutes, demonstrating their ruthlessness in transition, Lens thrashed Lorient 4-1 at home last weekend with a serious statement win.

Former Chelsea man Gael Kakuta's penalty got them off and running after 16 minutes, with Terem Moffi's equaliser seemingly kicking the hosts into another gear thereafter.

Corentin Jean, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Simon Banza all got themselves on the scoresheet to cap a fine win; another one at Brest on Sunday would seriously strengthen their stranglehold on a Europa League qualification position, but they may find it harder to come by with so many players likely to be absent due to COVID-19.

Brest Ligue 1 form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D

Brest form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D

Lens Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W

Lens form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W



Team News

Lens celebrate scoring against Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on September 10, 2020© Reuters

Brest are without Paul Lasne for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury, but are hoping to welcome Sebastien Cibois, Christophe Herelle and Denys Bain back to first-team action at various points throughout April.

Guion may be tempted to hand Gaetan Charbonnier a start in attack in order to attempt to increase his side's finishing ability, but he is more likely to trust the same XI to go again.

Lens, meanwhile, have been struck by a COVID-19 outbreak, with Cheick Traore, Jonathan Gradit, Facundo Medina, Loic Bade, Ignatius Ganago, Tony Mauricio and Seko Fofana all potentially absent for the trip to Brest.

Only Gradit of those players started in the win against Lorient last time out, though, with Adrien Louveau on standby to replace him in Haise's back three.

Lens' substitutes' bench may consequently be a depleted one, especially with Florian Sotoca still sidelined with a calf injury.

Brest possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Pierre-Gabriel, Chardonnet, Brassier, Perraud; Honorat, Magnetti, Lucas, Faivre; Cardona, Mounie

Lens possible starting lineup:
Leca; Louveau, Fortes, Michelin; Clauss, Cahuzac, Doucoure, Haidara; Kakuta; Jean, Kalimuendo


SM words green background

We say: Brest 1-1 Lens

Lens' COVID-19 outbreak will almost certainly have an impact on their chances in the match, particularly with Haise unable to call upon many options from the bench if they are required.

However, Brest are struggling to find wins at the moment, so we can see Lens extending their fine unbeaten run.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data



ID:443387:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10925:
Written by
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 Lens win with a probability of 40.88%. A win for Brest had a probability of 33.65% and a draw had a probability of 25.5%.

The most likely scoreline for a Lens win was 0-1 with a probability of 9.32%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.76%) and 0-2 (6.77%). The likeliest Brest win was 1-0 (8.3%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.05%). The actual scoreline of 1-1 was predicted with a 12.1% likelihood.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Brest vs Lens

Brest
32.1%
Draw
25.0%
Lens
42.9%
28
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Lyon coach Rudi Garcia pictured on February 19, 2021
Read Next:
Sunday's Ligue 1 predictions including Lyon vs. Angers
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Lions
34-17
Bears
FT
Browns
6-24
Bengals
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Bills
FT
Titans
30-38
Colts
FT
Giants
7-34
Falcons
FT
Rams
19-9
Jets
FT
Cardinals
30-36
Panthers
FT
Eagles
33-36
Washington
9.05pm
Vikings
@
Seahawks
9.25pm
49ers
@
Dolphins
9.25pm
Jags
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG16124044143040
2Marseille1593332181430
3MonacoMonaco1693426161030
4Lille1576225151027
5Lyon157442720725
6Nice156632819924
7Lens156631914524
8Auxerre156362323021
9Toulouse156361717021
10Reims155552018220
11Brest156182427-319
12Rennes155282020017
13StrasbourgStrasbourg154562527-217
14NantesNantes153571724-714
15Angers153481426-1213
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne1541101234-2213
17Le HavreLe Havre1540111129-1812
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier1523101538-239


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!