Marseille vs Brest

This weekend, Marseille takes on Brest in Ligue 1, with both teams still hoping to make it to Europe the next season.

With four games left, Brest is in ninth position, seven points outside of a Conference League berth, while the hosts are in second place, good enough for a Champions League berth next season.

In France, the competition for European football is intensifying, with only four points separating seventh-place Strasbourg from second-place Marseille.

Last time out, Roberto De Zerbi's team defeated Montpellier 5-1, resuming their winning ways after a dismal run of results.

Mason Greenwood’s double proved decisive as Marseille secured just their second victory in six matches, offering a much-needed boost amid a turbulent run.

The win comes as a relief for Les Olympiens, who have suffered four defeats in their last six games, highlighting their recent struggles in Ligue 1. While sitting in second place marks a major improvement from last season’s eighth-place finish, manager Roberto De Zerbi is said to be pushing for stronger backing in the upcoming transfer window to secure his long-term future at the club.

However, tensions seem to be rising within the squad, with internal criticism and five losses in their last eight matches fueling concerns about instability at the club. With nine defeats already this season, their recent slump has jeopardized what had been a promising campaign.

Yet, after winning two of their last three league games, Marseille may finally be turning a corner. Their hopes of securing Champions League football remain alive, especially given their attacking prowess—they’ve netted eight goals in their last two victories and rank as the second-highest scorers in the league (62 goals in 30 matches), trailing only Paris Saint-Germain.

This weekend presents another opportunity to bolster their goal tally as they face Brest, who have the fifth-worst defensive record in the division. The visitors have conceded 49 goals this season and kept just eight clean sheets, making them vulnerable against Marseille’s potent attack.

A strong finish to the season could be crucial in salvaging their ambitions and restoring confidence within the squad.

Their Champions League journey was one of the feel-good stories earlier in the season, but their chances of securing European football next year now seem slim.

Those hopes took a major blow last weekend with a 3-1 defeat to Lens, who overtook them in the standings.

While they’ve only managed five wins in 15 away matches this season, facing a struggling Marseille side—who have dropped points in seven home games—could present a chance to turn things around this weekend.

Brest will also be eager for payback after their heavy 5-1 loss to Marseille in August at Stade Francis-Le Blé.

In that match, Greenwood and Luis Henrique each scored twice, sealing a dominant victory for De Zerbi’s side.