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

After some excellent recent form, Brest could ensure their top-flight status for next season depending on the weekend's results.

Match preview

Despite battling relegation, only second-placed Lens are on a better run of home form than Brest currently in Ligue 1.

Eric Roy's side have won four in a row here at the Stade Francis-Le Ble, keeping clean sheets in their last three to aid their survival chances greatly.

Making it five in a row here would see the club record a home winning streak not seen since 1990.

It would also go a long way to ensuring their safety, with just one relegation place left to be decided, Brest are five points clear of Nantes, who currently occupy it.

A victory for the hosts combined with either Nantes failing to win or an Auxerre defeat will guarantee Ligue 1 football again next season.

Only Paris Saint-Germain and Lorient have beaten Roy's men since February, so safety does seem likely, but they do have a difficult finish to the season, starting with the visit of Clermont, as all three of their remaining opponents are currently in the top eight.

While Brest have shown supreme home form, no team can match Clermont's form over the last seven matches.

Picking up 19 points from a possible 21 is the best in Ligue 1 over that period and has just about kept Clermont's faint European dreams alive.

Clermont have made the biggest improvement on their points tally of all sides in Ligue 1 from last season, as their current total of 53 points is 20 more than what they had after 35 games last season, when they sat 17th, going on to narrowly avoid relegation.

Maintaining their position in eighth may see them miss out on Europe, but it will secure a first-ever top half finish in the top flight in the club's history.

Beating seventh-placed Lyon last weekend moved Clermont to within three points of them, but a draw for Lille and a victory for Rennes means European qualification is almost mathematically insurmountable.

Earlier this season, Clermont set a new club record of four away top-flight games unbeaten, and they have the opportunity to match that here should they avoid defeat, having collected seven points in their last three on the road.

Brest Ligue 1 form:

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W

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L

W

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

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Team News

Having scored in both of his previous starts at the Stade Francis-Le Ble, Brest's Mathias Pereira Lage is set to make his 100th Ligue 1 appearance here, against the side where he started his career.

Fellow wide man Jeremy Le Douaron netted the only goal in their win against Auxerre last weekend to reach double figures for the campaign, and he should start on the left of attack.

Noah Fadiga will remain out injured for the hosts, along with Loic Remy, who is unlikely to make his Brest debut before the season is out.

Baila Diallo has been ruled out yet again for Clermont ahead of this fixture, as the winger has made just six league appearances this season.

Mateusz Wieteska is back after serving a two-match suspension following a red card against Reims and could replace Florent Ogier in the starting lineup.

Grejohn Kyei's brace against Lyon means he has now been involved in four of Clermont's last five goals, having also scored against Reims at the end of April.

Mory Diaw showcased his value to this Clermont side with a 96th-minute penalty save to deny Alexandre Lacazette from netting a late equaliser last weekend.

Diaw's understudy Ouparine Djoco is Clermont's other injury absentee heading into this one.

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Duverne; Lees-Melou, Belkebla, Del Castillo; Pereira Lage, Mounie, Le Douaron

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Diaw; Seidu, Wieteska, Caufriez; Zeffane, Magnin, Gastien, Neto Borges; Khaoui, Kyei, Rashani

We say: Brest 0-1 Clermont

Brest have shown brilliant courage to fight against relegation, but with the job not yet complete, they need another big performance given the quality of the sides left to play.

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