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

The hosts are second in the table, having performed above expectations so far this season, while the visitors are down in 11th place.

Match preview

Although they finished 14th, Brest finished the 2022-23 campaign very strongly, winning four of their last six games, and they have picked up where they left off this season.

After seven games, the Pirates are second in the league, level on points with top-of-the-table AS Monaco, having picked up 14 points, and they have looked very solid from a defensive point of view over the past few weeks.

In their last four matches, Eric Roy's side have picked up three clean sheets, during which time they have gone undefeated, with their only loss this season coming in a 2-0 defeat away at Marseille.

Brest are still unbeaten on home soil, having taken seven points from their opening three games at Stade Francis Le Ble, most recently defeating Lyon 1-0 courtesy of an 89th-minute Steve Mounie goal.

Last time out, the Pirates looked solid defensively on the road against Nice, picking up a 0-0 draw in a game of very few chances, but they will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Sunday.

Toulouse, on the other hand, are currently in mid-table, winning just two of their opening seven Ligue 1 games, but they have had some very tough fixtures at the beginning of the season.

Les Pitchouns will be pleased with the draws they picked up against Marseille and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, and they were unlucky to lose against Champions League side Lens in late September, with Morgan Guilavogui scoring a late winner to make it 2-1.

Carles Martinez Novell's side have also had European football to contend with this season by virtue of winning the Coupe de France last season, and they kicked off their Europa League group with a 1-1 draw against Royale Union SG, before defeating LASK Linz 1-0.

In their last Ligue 1 match, Toulouse looked very impressive in a 3-0 win against Metz, and they will be looking to build on that victory by picking up their second away win of the season this weekend.

Brest Ligue 1 form:

W

L

D

W

W

D

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

D

L

D

D

L

W

Toulouse form (all competitions):

L

D

D

D

L

W

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Team News

Brest may have to do without Bilal Brahimi, as the 23-year-old was not included in the squad for the game against Nice due to injury, but he is mainly used as a substitute anyway, with Jeremy Le Douaron more likely to start at left-wing.

Achraf Dari is another bit-part player who is unlikely to be involved for the hosts as a result of injury, with Brendan Chardonnet and Lilian Brassier instead set to keep their places at centre-back after keeping a clean sheet in the last match.

As for Toulouse, a number of players still remain sidelined, including Oliver Zanden, who is recovering from surgery, and Ibrahim Cissoko, with the 20-year-old still dealing with a foot injury.

Zakaria Aboukhlal suffered a knee injury in the 1-1 draw against Union SG, which has ruled him out of the last three matches, and the 23-year-old will not be involved this weekend, with Joel Asoro set to start at right-wing.

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Locko; Magnetti, Lees-Melou, Del Castillo, Camara, Le Douaron; Mounie

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Restes; Desler, Costa, Nicolaisen, Suazo; Casseres, Schmidt, Spierings, Gelabert, Donnum; Dallinga

We say: Brest 1-1 Toulouse

Brest have made a very promising start to the season, currently sitting five points clear of Toulouse in the Ligue 1 table.

However, the visitors have had some very tough games at the start of the season, and we think the two sides are evenly-matched, so Sunday's game could finish as a draw.

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