Brestvs.St Etienne

Neither side are yet to register a point so far, as last season's surprise package Brest sit bottom after two matchdays.

Match preview

After shocking everyone in European football by securing a top-three finish in Ligue 1 last season, Brest are struggling majorly to back that up so far.

An opening day 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Marseille was the worst possible start for Eric Roy's men, and they could not improve the following week either, as Lens beat them 2-0.

Facing two sides fancied for Europe this season is far from an easy start by any means, but it is the manner of those defeats which is most concerning.

Another defeat here would see Brest lose their first three Ligue 1 games for just the second time in their history, 45 years after the first, in a season where they finished bottom.

Home form was the staple behind their strong performance last season, and after winning 13 and losing just twice over a 20-game spell here at the Francis-Le Ble, Brest are now winless in four on home soil.

Saint-Etienne are opponents Brest have enjoyed success against in recent times though, losing just one of the last six meetings between the sides.

Brest have also won three successive home games against Les Verts, two of which came when the current Saint-Etienne boss Olivier Dall'Oglio was in charge.

The hosts beat both newly-promoted sides home and away in Ligue 1 last season, so Dall'Oglio will need his side to show much more than they have so far if they are to get anything here.

Saint-Etienne are one of just three teams not to score in either of the first two games, and that was understandable on the opening day in a difficult clash with Monaco, but last week's defeat to Le Havre was worrying.

The jury remains out on whether Les Verts have strengthened enough to compete at this level, and the clash with Le Havre looked set to be a key indicator on whether they had.

However, Saint-Etienne underperformed, falling to a 2-0 defeat on home soil, and despite Brest's struggles, it is unlikely to get any easier here on the road.

Brest Ligue 1 form:

Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form:

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Team News

Brest handed a debut to Abdallah Sima last weekend, as the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee was given just under half an hour off the bench and could now start.

Pierre Lees-Melou continues his recovery from a broken leg, while Bradley Locko and Hianga'a M'Bock also remain out with injuries of their own for the hosts.

Full-back Pierre Cornud could make his Saint-Etienne debut here following a £1m move from Maccabi Haifa, seven years after leaving French football as a youngster.

On the injury front, Mahmoud Bentayg, Leo Petrot and Anthony Briancon are the players currently out for Les Verts, as Dall'Oglio may keep much of the same side that started a week ago.

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Le Cardinal, Amavi; Camara, Magnetti; Del Castillo, Sima, Faivre; Ajorque

Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:

Larsonneur; Nzuzi, Batubinsika, Abdelhamid, Macon; Tardieu, Old, Amougou; Davitashvili, Sissoko, Cafaro

We say: Brest 2-0 Saint-Etienne

Starting off strongly will be key and ending a run which has seen Brest concede in the opening 25 minutes of five of their last six games could be very important.

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