Nantes vs brest

Nantes aims to extend their unbeaten streak in 2025 as they prepare to host Brest at the Stade de la Beaujoire in a crucial Ligue 1 encounter on Friday.

With a swift transition from the league phase to the Champions League playoffs approaching, Brest readies themselves for another clash against Paris Saint-Germain, beginning with this fixture against a relegation-threatened Nantes side.

Following four consecutive draws to begin the year, Nantes finally secured a crucial victory last weekend, defeating Reims 2-1 away from home. This win extended their unbeaten run in 2025 to five matches, making them one of only two teams in Ligue 1—alongside runaway leaders PSG—to remain undefeated since the turn of the year. Antoine Kombouare’s men have suffered just one defeat in their last eight league outings, a significant turnaround that has eased the pressure on their previously embattled manager.

However, despite this positive run, Nantes still have work to do in their bid to climb further away from the relegation zone. They currently sit just one point ahead of Rennes, a club that invested heavily in January with an €85 million (£70 million) transfer spree, hoping to see those signings translate into much-needed points. Meanwhile, a three-point cushion separates Nantes from Saint-Etienne, who currently occupy the relegation playoff position, while Montpellier and Le Havre find themselves gradually slipping further into danger.

Home form has been a concern for Nantes this season. Despite taking only ten points from nine games at Stade de la Beaujoire, they have been competitive in most matches, often suffering narrow defeats or draws. Remarkably, they have managed to score in eight of those home fixtures while conceding just 12 goals. However, their upcoming opponents, Brest, have proven to be a significant hurdle in recent encounters.

Brest’s dominance in this fixture has been evident, with Nantes failing to register a single win in their last five meetings. Brest have emerged victorious in four of those clashes, scoring ten goals while conceding just two. The recent surge in Brest’s performances has coincided with their rise as a club, as evidenced by their participation in the Champions League knockout stage draw last week, where they were paired with PSG, much to their disappointment.

This upcoming tie against the French champions is far from ideal for Brest. Not only do they have a dismal record against PSG, but the draw also robbed them of the opportunity to test themselves against one of Europe’s foreign elite clubs, leaving them with a two-legged affair that will feel more like a domestic encounter rather than an international challenge.

To make matters worse, PSG delivered a psychological blow last weekend, comprehensively defeating Brest 5-2 in their league meeting. This heavy loss further exposed Brest’s defensive frailties, a stark contrast to their solidity last season. Under Eric Roy’s management, Brest conceded just 34 goals in the entirety of the previous campaign, boasting the joint-third-best defensive record. However, defensive regression has been a glaring issue this season, with Brest already surpassing that tally, conceding 36 goals in just 20 matches. This leaky backline has resulted in the Pirates having the worst defensive record among all teams outside the relegation zone in Ligue 1.

Despite their defensive struggles, Brest still have realistic ambitions of securing European football next season. Though their recent defeat to PSG left them seven points adrift of the top four, their European aspirations remain within reach, as they currently trail seventh-placed Lyon by only two points.

This Friday night fixture presents Brest with an opportunity to put pressure on Lyon in the race for European qualification. A victory here would temporarily propel them into the top seven, a psychological boost for the squad. Additionally, their recent 2-1 victory over Troyes in the Coupe de France last-16 on Tuesday provided a much-needed morale boost after the demoralizing loss to PSG.

Brest’s away form has been commendable in recent weeks, with back-to-back victories on the road in Ligue 1. A win against Nantes would mark three consecutive away triumphs, a feat they have not accomplished in 14 months. Notably, their third win in that sequence also came at Nantes, adding an extra layer of confidence as they head into this encounter.

As the two sides prepare to face off, Nantes will be determined to continue their resurgence and widen the gap between themselves and the relegation playoff zone. Meanwhile, Brest will see this fixture as a crucial stepping stone in their pursuit of European football, knowing that a positive result here could reignite their ambitions after a recent slump. With both teams having so much at stake, an intense and fiercely contested battle awaits at the Stade de la Beaujoire.