OGC Nice – Stade Brestois: Pretenders To The Throne Or Contenders For The Throne? (0-0)

An early top-of-the-table clash between some unusual suspects saw the two teams that started the weekend in first and second collide in a hard-fought affair. Neither Nice nor Stade Brestois excelled, but they showed exactly why so many teams have struggled to break down their defenses. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

The Bretons were left pinching themselves after Brest’s late 1-0 victory over Lyon last Saturday, but no matter their disbelief the table stayed the same: Brest were top of the league.

Above the more illustrious and wealthier likes of PSG, Marseille, and Monaco. Much of the success can be attributed to the work performed by Eric Roy who has turned the pirates in his short tenure from relegation candidates into a hard-to-beat and devastating side. 

In a quirk of fate, Brest would enter the weekend in first place with a visit to the team that started the weekend in second, as if to entertain the dream of a unique title race in France. Nice followed up their victory over PSG with an important and fortunate win over Monaco, thanks to two missed penalties from Les Monégaseques. The manager Francesco Farioli denied his team was ready to challenge for the title, but with a sold-out crowd at the Allianz Riviera belief was building.

Nice manager Farioli . . .