Brest take on the visitors Bayer Leverkusen in the round 3 match of UEFA Champions League group stage. The match will be played on Wednesday, October 23rd at Stade de Roudourou (Guingamp).
Brest has gradually found its footing after a disastrous start to Ligue 1, climbing from the lower part of the table to 11th place. The "Reds" were unprepared at the beginning of the season, and while they still concede many goals, the French side has already secured two wins in the Champions League and are currently in the top 3 of the group stage. However, Edouard Roy's team hasn't faced any real tests until their upcoming game against Bayer Leverkusen. Before meeting the German side, Brest defeated Austria's Sturm Graz at home, with a red card for the opponent greatly aiding their 2-1 win. Additionally, Pepijn Lijnders' Salzburg is a very young and inexperienced team, much weaker than previous versions, so the 4-0 win over the "Bulls" shouldn't be overestimated. After the international break, players like Ajorque, Del Castillo, and Balde couldn't hold onto a winning position in a 1-1 draw against Rennes at home, and now getting a positive result against Bayer will be even more challenging.
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Although not as consistent in the Bundesliga as last season, Bayer Leverkusen remains among the tournament's leaders. Xabi Alonso's team bounced back from an unexpected loss of points against Holstein Kiel at home (2-1) by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt after the break (2-1), creating 3.75 xG in the process (with Boniface missing a penalty). Their movement and pace were impressive, which is why Bayer's pressing intensity, combined with the quality and experience of their players, makes them the clear favorites for this match. Furthermore, there are no squad issues, meaning that with good squad depth, their results shouldn't dip over the course of the season. Players like Wirtz, Andrich, Boniface, Grimaldo, Adli, Terrier, and others know how to play at a high level. After last season's Europa League final, Bayer has continued its form in the Champions League with two wins — a 4-0 demolition of Feyenoord in Rotterdam and a 1-0 home victory over AC Milan.
I believe Bayer’s superior quality should secure them the 3 points here. Brest's defense is somewhat sluggish, and the home side will struggle to keep up with the pace and skill of their more experienced opponents. Additionally, since Brest doesn't typically play a defensive game, Bayer's mobile attack will likely find plenty of opportunities to score. A confident win for Bayer seems very likely in this match.
Prediction for the match: Bayer Leverkusen to win.
