Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
Stade Brestois' surprising performance in the Champions League group stage could impact AS Monaco's preparation for their face-off. However, domestically, Stade Brestois have not been as formidable, regularly dropping points in Ligue 1, though they have been pleasingly prolific.
AS Monaco
Despite defeating Barcelona (2:1) in the first round of the Champions League and collecting 10 points from 4 matches, Monaco still prioritise Ligue 1. Before the international break, the team defeated Strasbourg (3:1), exhibiting exemplary transition play with 3.72 xG and 19 shots. They went into the break with injuries to Aleksandr Golovin, Denis Zakaria, Sofiane Diop, and Folarin Balogun, yet their roster remains strong, with attackers Eliesse Ben-Seghir and Takumi Minamino in excellent form.
Stade Brestois
Stade Brestois also earned 10 points in the Champions League, like Monaco, but sit lower in the table due to tiebreakers. In the previous French championship round, they unexpectedly lost to Montpellier from the relegation zone (1:3), conceding a significant 2.41 xGA despite 68% possession. The coaching staff need to address their challenging league position, though Stade Brestois have no major absences.
AS Monaco vs Stade Brestois Prediction
In terms of total xG, AS Monaco are second in Ligue 1 (22.36), while Stade Brestois have the third-worst defence (25.13 xGA). At home, AS Monaco are expected to capitalise on the visitors' mistakes and score at least twice.
