Brest vs Rennes – News and Probable Lineups

European contenders Rennes are set to resume their campaign after the international break with a short journey to Brest, where both teams are looking to reignite their declining form in Saturday’s Brittany derby at Stade Francis-Le Ble.

Both sides have experienced a lull in their performance lately, with the home team suffering back-to-back defeats while the visitors remain without a win in their last two encounters (D1, L1).

Match overview

Brest currently occupies the 11th position in the Ligue 1 standings, sitting 14 points above the relegation zone yet trailing the top six by 10 points, with just seven matches left to play. This makes European qualification a challenging goal.

The only time the Pirates have played in Europe was during the 2024-25 Champions League season, and this season has largely been characterized by their erratic performances despite moments of promise.

Eric Moy’s side did manage a six-match unbeaten streak from early February to early March, claiming four victories without conceding. However, this strong defensive form has since deteriorated, leading to troubles in front of goal.

Brest’s recent defeats include a loss to Mônaco, followed by a 3-0 setback against relegation-threatened Auxerre—despite playing with a numerical advantage for a large portion of the match—leaving them on the brink of three consecutive Ligue 1 losses without scoring, a feat they haven’t achieved since April 2013.

As they return from the international break, Les Pirates will be glad to play at Francis-Le Ble, where they’ve won six of their last seven home fixtures (D1), with five of these victories being clean sheets. The team will look to leverage this home record to revive their waning hopes of European qualification.

Rennes has also seen their hopes for European football take a hit in recent weeks, dropping to seventh place after transitioning from a four-match winning streak to not winning in their last two encounters.

The slump began with a 2-1 defeat to Lille, followed by a scoreless draw against Metz, who sit at the bottom of the table, marking the second time this year that Les Rennais have gone two consecutive home games without a win at Roazhon Park.

However, there is reason for optimism away from home as Rennes has notched two straight victories in their away matches, winning by a total of 7-0. Only Lille, Lens, and Paris Saint-Germain have secured more Ligue 1 points on the road this season than Rennes’ 19.

Aiming to become the first manager to win his first three away matches in the top flight, Franck Haise—who was appointed on February 18—will be mindful that Les Rennais have not triumphed in their previous two trips to Brest (D2) but they remain unbeaten in their last six league away matches at this stadium (W2, D4).

A win this Saturday would also see Rennes achieve a Ligue 1 double over Les Pirates for the first time since the 2022-23 season, having already won 3-1 in the earlier fixture this season.

Team News

Brest will be missing Mamory Doumbia, who had to withdraw late from the Auxerre match due to an adductor injury, which likely means Lucas Tousart will hold his position in midfield.

Mama Balde, who had just returned from a thigh injury in the last match, is expected to be sidelined for three weeks after experiencing a setback, ruling him out of the derby.

On a positive note, head coach Roy will welcome back key players Brendan Chardonnet and Ludovic Ajorque after serving suspensions; Ajorque’s return is particularly crucial as he leads the team in Ligue 1 contributions.

Rennes, on the other hand, appears largely fit, with Liverpool-bound defender Jeremy Jacquet continuing his recovery from shoulder surgery.

The visitors will be without the suspended defensive duo of Przemyslaw Frankowski and Anthony Rouault, both serving bans for accumulated yellow cards.

Brest probable starting XI:

Coudert; Lala, Chardonnet, Diaz, Guindo; Chotard, Magnetti; Castillo, Tousart, Ebimbe; Ajoque

Rennes probable starting XI:

Pray; Merlin, Brassier, Boudlal, Nagida; Camara, Rongier, Szymanski; Nordin, Lepaul, Blas

This Brittany derby pits two teams against each other as they seek to rediscover their form following the international break, indicating a potentially cautious and closely contested match.

Thus, a balanced encounter looks on the cards, and with four of the last six meetings at Francis-Le Ble concluding in draws, another stalemate appears to be the most likely result.