Champions League: Can Brest Make it a Big Three?

Brest vs Bayer Leverkusen

Champions League newcomers Stade Brestois continue their European adventure this week when Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will be the visitors to Brittany in Northwest France.  

The Ligue 1 side plays its home fixtures in nearby Guincamp to meet the UEFA regulations and they will welcome Die Werkself to the Stade Municipal de Roudourou for a mouth-watering clash. In these early stages Champions League: Brest vs Leverkusen is a second versus fourth meeting as both teams won their opening two games.

But, after impressively beating Sturm Graz and Red Bull Salzburg this is a huge step up if Brest are to make it three wins from three.  

 

Talking Points

Les Pirates are making history

Following their promotion to the top flight in 2019 Stade Brestois have worked hard to establish themselves in Ligue 1 and the Brittany side settled in the lower half of mid table, winning their only real relegation battle in 2021 when they finished 17^th. Eric Roy’s side finished third last season, their best ever campaign in their 121 year history and have rightfully taken their place at Europe’s top table. Brest are currently 11^th in the Ligue 1 table and are steadily improving after a slow start, and they have adapted to European football like ducks to water.

Only 20 years ago Brest were in the National league, outside the professional leagues, and now they can boast back-to-back European victories, beating Sturm Graz 2-1 at home and then stunning Salzburg with a 4-0 away win. That result raised a few eyebrows as star striker Abdallah Sima scored twice and keeper Marco Bizot worked wonders to keep a clean sheet, making seven saves. They were ruthless on the break but Brest will probably be without Sima, who was missing for the 1-1 draw with Rennes at the weekend, struggling with a hamstring strain, and the clash with Leverkusen will come too soon.       

We expect the Brest vs Leverkusen highlights to be played out mainly in the French half and the return of influential midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou at the weekend is a boost. The Brest defence, marshalled by Captain Brendan Chardonnet will need some protection and, while the 31 year old can play as an attacking midfielder, he may well sit deeper and try to control the pace of the game.

 

Boniface hot for Leverkusen

Bayer have made a decent start to their title defence and a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend lifted them to fourth place in the Bundesliga, and just three points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Striker Victor Boniface scored the winner against Eintracht to take him up to five goals in the league and he scored the only goal of the game in Leverkusen’s clash with AC Milan in the Champions League. Die Werkself had already beaten Feyenoord 4-0 in Europe as Florian Wirtz became the first German player to score twice on his Champions League debut, and the 21 year old is also in hot form in the league with four goals. He suffered an ankle injury while playing for Germany over the international break but Wirtz got some minutes against Frankfurt and is fit to face Brest. Meanwhile Boniface is being checked over by club staff after he was involved in a car accident and he too should be okay.      

The German champions are at SBOTOP odds of 17.00 to win the tournament as seventh favourites and so likely quarter finalists; and Leverkusen are odds on to win their first three games in the Champions League for the first time since 2001. Of course Granit Xhaka will be in Bayer’s midfield engine room and he will be an imposing presence which Brest need to somehow subdue.     

 

History

This is the first time these two teams have met, and in Brest’s debut season at Europe’s top table they have games against Real Madrid and Barcelona to look forward to.  

With three wins one draw and two defeats from the last six league games the French side are finding their feet, balancing domestic and European challenges. Add in the two Champions League wins and the French side has four wins, one draw and one defeat from the last six while Leverkusen have won four and drawn two.  

 

Betting Tip

The Brest vs Leverkusen betting odds make the French hosts 5.41 to win this huge game with their visitors priced at 1.43, and the draw is at 4.10. The hosts have made such a good start to their European campaign they will be full of optimism, but this is such a big step up I think Die Werkself will have just too much quality. 

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.