- Le Mans FC have won five of their last ten matches in all competitions (D3, L2), so they are in solid, if unspectacular, form.
- Stade Brestois 29 have won only one of their last ten in all competitions (D5, L4), so they are in poor shape.
Both teams to score looks the livelier option
Le Mans FC return to the top-flight as Sang et Or on Saturday night, but they face a stern opening-night test at home to a quality Stade Brestois 29 side who are no strangers to Ligue 1.
Le Mans are in mixed form after five matches, but have given a good account of themselves with three wins and two defeats. Their most recent two results, however, were a 3-2 away win at Angers SCO followed by a 1-0 home defeat to Le Havre AC, so they can bite back as well as get clipped by better opponents.
Le Mans will certainly get some bites from Brest on Saturday, who are a quicker, more vertical team under Julien Lachuer. The coach has his side playing in a 4-3-3 system where the tempo is fast and the ball is recovered at a greater pace, so we're expecting Brest to try and make Le Mans make errors on the ball.
An away goal could be crucial
Le Mans are a more compact team by nature, typically sitting in a low or mid block and protecting their shape. Patrick Videira's men are organised first and foremost, but have a more than capable press when necessary and can be flexible in terms of defensive shape.
Their clash of compact control versus high-tempo transition could see this become a tight tactical battle and not a shootout. That said, over 2.5 goals at 4/5 and both teams to score at 31/50 are both good enough to support, with BTTS looking the livelier angle.
The hosts have been a little more productive than their visitors in recent weeks, with Louis Mafouta being their sharpest cutting edge with three goals in the last five. Brest have in form Ludovic Ajorque to lean on, however, with the former Reims man scoring four times in their seven goals across their previous five.
Home advantage to edge it
Le Mans are odds on at 37/25 to win this one, with Brest a touch longer at 41/25 and the draw at 5/2. This game looks like it will be close, but we're going with the home side to edge it because their home record is superior to that of Brest away from home (W4, D1, L2 vs W1, L2).
