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

Les Pirates held Lyon to a 0-0 draw in the midweek round of fixtures, while Franck Haise's side were nullified in a 1-0 loss to Nice.

Match preview

It was not for the want of trying, but Lyon just could not penetrate a staunch Brest backline at the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday evening, as the two sides shook hands on a point apiece following a goalless stalemate.

Les Pirates faced no fewer than 28 shots on the day - eight of which were on target - but Eric Roy's side held firm to come away with a hard-earned point and second successive clean sheet following a 4-0 thumping of Angers last weekend.

A new year has brought a new sense of stability for Brest under the recently-hired Roy, whose side have now gone unbeaten in each of their last four Ligue 1 matches and sit 15th in the rankings as a result - just one clear of the four-team relegation zone, though.

Les Pirates have shipped just one goal in their last 360 minutes of top-flight football, but victories have still been hard to come by for Roy's men, who have drawn three of their four games during their brief unbeaten run and have just one win to boast from their last six league contests.

However, the Stade Francis Le-Ble has been kind to this weekend's hosts, who have taken eight points from the last 15 on offer on home soil while keeping three clean sheets in that run, and Lens are not the force they once were if recent results are anything to go by.

Paris Saint-Germain have been far from perfect in recent weeks, but Lens have wasted a couple of prime opportunities to stay in touch with the champions, and their latest dose of disappointment occurred in front of their own fans against Nice on Wednesday.

In a contest marred by injuries, Gaetan Laborde connected with Antoine Mendy's header at the back stick to prod home the game's only goal just before the hour mark, but Lens captain Seko Fofana was inches away from restoring parity late on - rattling the crossbar with a long-range effort that Kasper Schmeichel ostensibly thought was going over.

Having started the year in dreamland with a 3-1 win over PSG, Lens have since posted just one victory from their last four in the top flight - edging past Auxerre 1-0 but also drawing with Strasbourg and Troyes, two games that they would have been wholly expected to prevail in.

Lens' midweek defeat saw Marseille leapfrog Franck Haise's men into second place - forcing Les Sang et Or into third - but the visitors still hold a four-point lead over Monaco and will remain in the Champions League positions no matter what transpires this weekend.

Furthermore, only two of Lens' last eight away matches in Ligue 1 have ended in victory - with their most recent three all ending with the spoils shared - but they posted a 3-1 Coupe de France win over Brest at the Stade Francis Le-Ble just two weeks ago.

Brest Ligue 1 form:

L

L

D

D

W

D

Brest form (all competitions):

L

D

D

L

W

D

Lens Ligue 1 form:

D

W

D

W

D

L

Lens form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

D

L

Team News

Brest manager Roy has already ruled out the prospect of Noah Fadiga (hip), Brendan Chardonnet (thigh) and Mathias Pereira Lage (ankle) returning here, but Romain Del Castillo could potentially shake off a calf issue to make himself available.

Midfield regular Pierre Lees-Melou is also back from a ban and should make an immediate return to the engine room, most likely in place of compatriot Hugo Magnetti as Haris Belkebla and Mahdi Camara hold their places.

Reims loanee Bradley Locko could also make his debut at left-back following his deadline-day arrival, but Roy should see no need to alter his staunch backline for the time being.

As for Lens, Haise lost left-wing back Massadio Haidara to a calf injury in the first half against Nice, so Deiver Machado may be called upon to deputise this week, and the former joins a packed treatment room for the visitors.

Nice loanee Alexis Claude-Maurice is facing at least two months out after undergoing knee surgery, while Salis Abdul Samed missed the defeat to Nice after taking a knock to the knee in training, but the 22-year-old should recover in time for this one. Meanwhile, Steven Fortes, Jimmy Cabot, Adam Buksa and Wuilker Farinez are are all continuing their recoveries.

Having reinforced their midfield ranks with the signing of Angelo Fulgini, the Mainz loanee should be in contention for his debut here, while Florian Sotoca and top scorer Lois Openda will surely be recalled to the attack.

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Lala, Herelle, Brassier, Duverne; Camara, Belkebla, Lees-Melou; Honorat, Mounie, Elis

Lens possible starting lineup:

Samba; Medina, Danso, Gradit; Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Fofana, Machado; Sotoca, Thomasson; Openda

We say: Brest 0-1 Lens

With Lens losing their bite amid a spate of injuries and Brest proving more and more resilient under Roy, a high-scoring affair should be off the cards here, especially with both sides demonstrating an affinity for closely-fought draws.

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