For the first time since Lyon and Bordeaux met in the 2009 quarterfinals, two French clubs will meet in the Champions League as PSG takes on Stade Brestois.
PSG currently sits 1st in Ligue 1 and finished 15th in the Champions League league phase. Brest has been disappointing in the league, only sitting 8th, but finished 18th in the league phase.
For other Ligue 1 teams, Lille finishing 7th means they have already punched their ticket to the round of 16, meanwhile Monaco will have to take on Benfica.
Brest vs. PSG: Preview and predicted lineups
The match will be played at Stade du Roudourou, the home of Ligue 2 side En Avant Guingamp. This change is because Brest’s home pitch doesn’t meet UEFA’s requirements.
The match kicks off earlier than PSG usually plays in this competition, at 18:45 CET/12:45 ET/09:45 PT.
Most games PSG plays in this competition fall into the later 21:00 CET/15:00 EST/12:00 time slot, so this is a change. Next week’s match at the Parc Des Princes will be in the later slot.
PSG is predicted to run close to their typical 4-3-3.
PSG predicted lineup vs. Brest: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
The only major change for them is Fabian Ruiz replacing Warren Zaire-Emery, who is out with an ankle injury.
Brest is also predicted to run a 4-3-3.
Brest predicted lineup vs. PSG: Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Ndiaye, Haidara; Camara, Lees-Melou, Magnetti; Faivre, Ajorque, Sima.
Historically and in recent years, this matchup has been dominated by PSG. Brest has not beaten the Parisian club since 1985, and not at the Parc des Princes since 1980.
Over the last 15 years, the 19 matchups between the two teams have resulted in 17 PSG wins and 2 draws. Their most recent matchup was on February 1, when PSG won 5-2.
Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick, and Goncalo Ramos added two goals late in the match to finish it off.
Prediction
While Brest has had a great story to get here, the recent history between the two teams is what it is for a reason. PSG, aided by the addition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for this stage and the storming Ousmane Dembele, will take a relatively comfortable win on the road and set themselves up to move on.
Prediction: Brest 1-3 PSG
