The match: 0-0
After its crazy success in the derby in Rennes on Sunday (5-4) which allowed it to reactivate its march forward after two setbacks (Lyon and Monaco), Brest struggled to gather its spirits and especially its strength this Saturday, facing Nantes. Quickly handicapped by injuries (see below), the Bretons failed to find the key to beating the Canaries who were easily satisfied with a draw (0-0) and took a four-point lead over Metz, in the barrage position. For its part, Stade Brestois could abandon its place on the podium in Lille if LOSC beats OL on Monday (9 p.m.).
Even if it did not have the flame of big nights, Brest still dominated the start of the match. Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont had to work on a shot from Bradley Locko to avoid opening the scoring (9th), and Mahdi Camara had two other clear chances, without hitting the target (20th, 33rd). Destabilized by the injury exits of Pierre Lees-Melou and Romain Del Castillo, the Breton collective was in more difficulty afterwards, and the young Canary Matthis Abline missed the opportunity to reward Nantes’ renewed form (40th, 42nd, 43rd , see below).
The second period was less rhythmic (two shots on each side), between Brest players uninspired to find space in Antoine Kombouaré’s block and Nantais players more inclined not to indulge too much. Eric Roy’s changes, to bring freshness, were not enough to capsize Francis-Le Blé once again.
The fact: injuries to Lees-Melou and Del Castillo
As the added time of their crazy season has arrived, the Brest corps are starting to shoot in earnest. This Saturday evening, two of the pillars of the Pirates’ epic left the field before half-time, victims of muscular alerts. Barometer of the Breton midfielder, Pierre Lees-Melou left the field in the 28th minute, visibly injured in the right calf. It was then Romain Del Castillo, one of the best attacking midfielders of the season in L1, who abandoned his partners, with his left sock down (41st). Without these two crucial cogs, Brest was immediately more vulnerable. Brest will feverishly await the results of the exams in view of the last two matches against Reims and Toulouse.
The player: Abline and the three failures
Key man for FC Nantes at the end of the season, Matthis Abline was unable to maintain his momentum at Francis-Le Blé, due to major inefficiency. The 21-year-old striker made some differences, but he missed three chances, including two very clear ones before half-time. After overtaking the Brest defense, he first complicated his task with a dive from the outside of the right into the side net (40th). He then missed the target when he had perfectly cleared Marco Bizot, on an opening from Tino Kadewere (42nd). He then shot over on a delivery from the Zimbabwean (43rd). Antoine Kombouaré did not spare him during the break, encouraging him to get rid of his doubts. This had no effect until his replacement by Mostafa Mohamed (72nd).
