Preview: A UCL Clash as Monaco host Brest
A challenging start in the league
Brest under Éric Roy have impressed mightily in Europe, with three wins and a draw from their first four fixtures ahead of taking on Barcelona next week, but domestically things have gone rather differently, with the team hovering just outside the relegation zone. Injuries have played their part, with Romain Del Castillo a notable absence -- although he is expected back for this encounter. More telling, however, has been the club's difficulties in balancing the demands of Europe with the league.
Speaking pre-match, Roy expressed the challenges of balancing two competitions for a small squad, saying. "I'm not satisfied with our place in the table, of course. There have been some really weak matches: in Montpellier (1-3), in Auxerre (0-3), the first half against Nice (0-1). I'm putting the first 2 or 3 matches aside because I think we didn't have too many options at that time. Now, we have to be able to support this pace and perform well consistently."
Against Monaco, while Del Castillo will return, the visitors still have notable absences in defence. Bradley Locko remains a long-term absentee, while the versatile Massadio Haïdara is also unavailable, as is on-loan centre back Soumaïla Coulibaly. Roy still has strong options, but will be limited in his chances to rotate.
an important return
For the hosts, things have gone much better domestically, while still impressing in Europe -- like the Bretons, they've ten points from their first four European matches but are second in the Ligue 1 table. Strong wins over the likes of Olympique Lyonnais and Stade Rennais have led the way for the Principality side, and even if there have been blips such as a loss to struggling SCO Angers and a derby defeat to OGC Nice, manager Adi Hütter is generally pleased with the strength of his squad and its depth and is counting on them to build on their win over Strasbourg before the break.
Of Brest, Hütter says, "we have a lot of respect for this team. We must not play in the same way as against Angers, where this match was a big disappointment. Fortunately, we reacted well afterwards in Bologna and then in Strasbourg and did not give up. I was very happy with this reaction."
In addition to this reaction, the hosts will have again the services of captain Denis Zakaria -- the Swiss midfielder has been influential this season and was badly missed as he battled injury. While his midfield partner, Lamine Camara is suspended, he is likely to line up next to youngster Soungoutou Magassa. In attack, Hütter expects to deploy his two academy products, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche, the two having continued to prove their reliability this season.
Predicted lineups:
AS Monaco (3-4-3): Majecki; Singo, Kehrer, Salisu; Vanderson, Magassa, Zakaria, Henrique; Akliouche, Embolo, Ben Seghir
Stade Brestois (4-3-3): Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Le Cardinal, Amavi; Camara, Lees-Melou, Magnetti; Del Castillo, Ajorque, Pereira Lage (or Sima)
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