Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Brest - prediction, team news, lineups

While the hosts have not lost in the top flight since March, the visitors are hoping to avoid a fourth defeat this season.

Match preview

After a near perfect start to the defence of their Ligue 1 title, Paris Saint-Germain continued their strong run of form with a 2-1 victory over Juventus in their opening Champions League group game on Tuesday.

Kylian Mbappe followed up his brace in the 3-0 league win at Nantes last weekend with two more goals to help the Parisian giants edge past Juve - arguably their toughest opponents in Group H - at the Parc des Princes.

Christophe Galtier will be pleased with how his side have quickly adjusted to his 3-5-2 setup since replacing Mauricio Pochettino over the summer. The former Lille and Nice boss has seen his new team win seven and draw one of their first eight competitive matches this term, scoring 30 goals and conceding only five.

PSG, who sit joint-top of the Ligue 1 table with Marseille, will be confident of extending their 15-game unbeaten run in the top flight against an out-of-sorts Brest outfit.

The Parisians have won each of their last 11 meetings against Brest, a run dating back to September 2011, and should have few problems in claiming maximum points once again this weekend.

Brest came into the new campaign on a high after finishing in 11th place last season, their highest Ligue 1 finish for over 30 years.

However, the Pirates have struggled to hit the ground running this term, as they have won only one, drawn two and lost three of their opening six league games.

After suffering a heavy 7-1 defeat against Montpellier and losing 3-1 to Rennes, Michel Der Zakarian will have at least been pleased to have seen his side stop the rot with a 1-1 draw at home to Strasbourg last weekend, albeit playing with an extra man for almost an hour of the contest.

Pierre Lees-Melou's opening strike for the hosts in the sixth minute was cancelled out by a penalty converted by Ludovic Ajorque just before the hour mark, and although Sanjin Prcic was dismissed just three minutes after the equaliser, the visitors held on to claim a point.

Brest's only victory so far this season came away from home against Angers - a 3-1 win on August 21 - but their chances of success on the road this weekend are slim, as they come up against a rampant PSG side who have scored at least two goals in each of their last nine meetings against the Pirates.

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

Brest Ligue 1 form:

Team News

PSG have a clean bill of health at present and Galtier is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup this weekend.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is preferred ahead of Keylor Navas between the sticks, while Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe are all set to continue in the back three.

Vitinha and Marco Verratti could retain their places in centre-midfield, although Galtier has plenty of options at his disposal, with the likes of Renato Sanches, Fabian Ruiz and Carlos Soler all pushing to start.

There should be no surprises in attack with Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar - who have scored 17 goals combined so far this term - expected to operate in the front three.

As for Brest, Noah Fadiga (ankle), Jeremy Le Douaron (groin), Steve Mounie (heel) and Romain Del Castillo (hamstring) all remain sidelined with injuries, although the latter is closing in on a return.

To counteract the threat PSG are likely to pose, Der Zakarian may decide to switch to a back five, which could see Brendan Chardonnet brought in at centre-back alongside Christophe Herelle and Achraf Dari.

Former Monaco, Lyon and Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani, who has failed to score in three previous appearances against PSG, is expected to lead the line in attack.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Ramos, Marquinhos, Kimpembe; Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Mendes; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Duverne, Dari, Chardonnet, Herelle, Brassier; Magnetti, Belkebla, Lees-Melou; Honorat, Slimani

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Brest

It is difficult to see anything other than a comfortable victory for PSG this weekend, who are flying high in all competitions and have an impressive record against Brest.

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