Barcelona and Brest face off in an intriguing Champions League fixture on Tuesday night at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Barcelona aim to bounce back from a frustrating domestic draw in La Liga against Celta Vigo, while Brest look to continue their remarkable European debut campaign.
Barcelona Recent Form
Barcelona's recent form has been mixed. In their last La Liga outing, the Catalans were held to a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo after conceding two late goals.
Despite this stumble, they remain at the top of the league table, but the gap they've created ahead Atletico Madrid has narrowed.
In the Champions League, however, their form has been strong, winning three consecutive games and scoring 14 goals across those matches.
Brest Recent Form
Brest have defied expectations in their Champions League debut, securing three wins and a draw in four matches.
However, their Ligue 1 form has been less impressive, with three straight defeats, including a 3-2 loss to Monaco in their most recent game. Brest sit 12th in Ligue 1 but continue to thrive on the European stage.
Injury and Team News
Barcelona
Doubtful: Lamine Yamal (ankle), Eric Garcia, Ferran Torres (both nearing returns).
Out: Ronald Araújo, Ansu Fati, Andreas Christensen, Marc-André ter Stegen, and Marc Bernal.
Likely changes include Frenkie de Jong and Alejandro Balde starting, replacing Gavi and Gerard Martin.
Brest
Doubtful: Pierre Lees-Melou (leg).
Out: Massadio Haidara (muscle), Romain Faivre (ankle), Soumaila Coulibaly (pelvis), Bradley Locko (Achilles), and possibly Abdallah Sima (muscle).
Ludovic Ajorque, the team's leading offensive contributor, is expected to start.
Last Barcelona Lineup
Barcelona lined up as follows in their last game:
Last Brest Lineup
Brest's lineup for their Ligue 1 defeat to Monaco:
Barcelona Player to Watch
Robert Lewandowski: The Polish striker remains central to Barcelona's attack, consistently finding the net in crucial matches. His leadership and finishing ability could be decisive against Brest.
Brest Player to Watch
Ludovic Ajorque:
With three goals and four assists in this campaign, Ajorque is Brest's standout player. His physicality and composure in front of goal make him a threat against Barcelona's defence.
Prediction
While Brest have impressed, this match represents a significant challenge. Barcelona’s home advantage and overall squad depth should secure a comfortable win.
Our Prediction: Barcelona 2-0 Brest
Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Barcelona to Win
Barcelona’s strong form in the Champions League makes them favourites, especially at home.
Tip 2 - Under 3.5 Goals
With Brest likely to adopt a defensive approach, a lower-scoring game is probable.
Tip 3 - Robert Lewandowski Anytime Scorer
Lewandowski’s clinical finishing makes him a likely candidate to score in this match.
