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

The teams convene at Stade Louis II, four days after the hosts snatched a 3-2 victory at Auxerre and their 17th-placed opponents lost to Lyon; leaving them just inside the drop zone.

Match preview

Bursting onto the scene in a blaze of glory, Monaco teenager Eliesse Ben Seghir conjured up a magical 85th-minute winner on Wednesday, as Philippe Clement's men overcame struggling Auxerre 3-2 in the principality.

As well as becoming the youngest player for 75 years to score twice on his Ligue 1 debut, only Thierry Henry has ever bagged a brace for the club at a younger age than the 17-year-old starlet.

Star striker Wissam Ben Yedder had been replaced by the local lad of Moroccan descent, but Ben Seghir had no difficulty in filling the former's boots, and his timely intervention leaves Monaco fifth in the table heading into 2023.

Furthermore, Les Monegasques have only lost one of their eight away fixtures this season, while winning six. At home, however, their results have been more of a mixed bag, which is why they trail Rennes, Marseille and Lens in the race for second place behind Paris Saint-Germain.

Their three strikes in midweek not only ensured a long-delayed response to letting three points slip against Marseille just before the World Cup break, but also extended a goalscoring run which is the longest throughout the top five European leagues - some 26 games.

Before Brest roll into Fontvieille on New Year's Day, Monaco have not lost their first game of a calendar year since 2009 - but having conceded goals at a rate of nearly two per game on home soil this term, back-to-back wins are far from assured.

Brest undertake the long trip south on Sunday hoping to end a streak of defeats in this fixture at Stade Louis II; indeed, it has always been the home side who have won each of the last six meetings between the Breton club and Monaco - three apiece.

They arrive on this occasion occupying a spot inside the relegation zone, as after a 2-1 win over Troyes just before the World Cup had lifted them above the dotted line, their ninth Ligue 1 loss of the season on Wednesday saw them slide back into the bottom three.

Though Les Pirates pulled level in the 29th minute of their encounter with Lyon through Mathias Pereira Lage's deflected free-kick, Rayan Cherki soon restored Lyon's lead, and by the time Steve Mounie headed in another for the hosts midway through the second half, Brest were on their way to a 4-2 defeat.

Following the sacking of Michel Der Zakarian in October, caretaker coach Bruno Grougi has now led his side to seven points from six matches, which represents a slight upturn, but has been unable to resolve their defensive deficiencies yet.

Brest conceded three times in two mid-season friendlies before leaking four on their return to competitive action, and a 4-2 loss last time they visited Monaco in May will serve as a reminder of their hosts' potency in the final third.

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

D

L

W

W

L

W

Monaco form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

W

Brest Ligue 1 form:

L

W

D

L

W

L

Team News

After remaining consigned to the bench in midweek, France defender Benoit Badiashile is on the verge of completing a reported £35m move to Chelsea, so Monaco may pair Malang Sarr - currently on loan from the English club - and Guillermo Maripan at the heart of their back four again on Sunday.

Unless Alexander Nubel's mooted early return to Bayern Munich comes to fruition before kickoff, the German goalkeeper will provide the hosts' last line of defence.

Up front, meanwhile, Philippe Clement has an embarrassment of riches, as Swiss striker Breel Embolo scored twice in a recent 4-2 friendly win over Leeds United, while leading scorer Wissam Ben Yedder and young Eliesse Ben Seghir were both on target against Auxerre; Kevin Volland may also be available if he can overcome a rib injury.

Brest, meanwhile, will hope to have Jeremy Le Douaron and midfield regular Pierre Lees-Melou back from illness on New Year's Day, and Achraf Dari could be involved after receiving an ovation from the home fans on Wednesday for his role in Morocco's magnificent World Cup run.

The centre-back scored the Atlas Lions' goal against Croatia in the third-place playoff, but is likely to make the bench at best after returning from a brief holiday.

In attack, the visitors will rely on four-goal top scorer Romain Del Castillo, Steve Mounie and Franck Honorat - the latter has just two goals in the 2022-23 campaign so far, having netted 11 in Ligue 1 last term.

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Nubel; Disasi, Sarr, Maripan, Jakobs; Martins, Fofana, Camara, Minamino; Ben Yedder, Embolo

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Fadiga, Chardonnet, Brassier, Duverne; Camara, Belkebla, Pereira Lage; Del Castillo, Mounie, Honorat

We say: Monaco 3-1 Brest

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