Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
In the previous round, Stade Brestois dropped out of the top eight of the Champions League standings, and their upcoming match against Real Madrid does not promise to be a turning point for the better. The Madrid side are in scintillating form and look ready to secure a decisive victory in France, keeping their hopes alive for a top-eight finish in the group stage.
Stade Brestois
Recent defeats to Barcelona (0:3) and Shakhtar Donetsk (0:2) have exposed Stade Brestois' defensive frailties, which were previously masked against less potent opponents. In those two matches, the team allowed a combined 4.79 xGA and 28 shots. Without their injured forward Mama Baldé, it will be even harder for Stade Brestois to create chances up front, as their striking duo of Ludovic Ajorque and Habib Diallo lacks consistency and reliability.
Real Madrid
Since their painful loss to Barcelona (2:5) in the Super Cup final, Real Madrid have bounced back in dominant fashion, winning four straight matches with an aggregate scoreline of 17:2. Their stars have been shining brightly—against Salzburg (5:1) at home, all the big names contributed, with Vinícius Jr. scoring twice to move into the top five scorers of the Champions League stage (7+1). Against Real Valladolid (3:0), Kylian Mbappé recorded his first hat-trick for Real Madrid and extended his scoring streak to five matches, bringing his total to eight goals in that span.
Stade Brestois vs Real Madrid Prediction
Stade Brestois managed a hard-fought victory over Ligue 1’s bottom club, Le Havre (1:0), on Sunday, generating 1.94 xG with nine shots on target. However, against Real Madrid, they are unlikely to see as many opportunities, and their defensive lapses will likely be punished by Madrid’s clinical attack.
