By winning (2-1) at the end of a thrilling match, Brest gave itself some breathing room from the red zone and deprived Lyon of an opportunity to get on the podium, Saturday, for the 17th day of Ligue 1.
It would have taken a victory by two goals for Les Gones to overtake Lille and Monaco and take third place in the standings but they remain fifth with 28 points and under threat from Nice, sixth with 27 points, before their meeting in Reims on Saturday evening.
For the Bretons, who had a bad start to 2025 by losing in Angers (2-0) last week, this success temporarily puts them back 6 steps ahead of the red zone, in 10th place.
Often punished by its missed starts to matches this season, Brest this time made a thunderous start.
Still greatly diminished (absences of Lees-Melou, Martin, Coulibaly, Le Cardinal, Locko), Eric Roy’s team perhaps surprised its opponent with a change of system at kickoff.
Author of a goal and an assist, Brestois Mahdi Camara was the key man in the Bretons’ victory on Saturday against Lyon in Ligue 1 at the Stade Francis-Le Blé in Brest. / Fred TANNEAU / AFP
The 4-4-2 diamond pattern allowed the Finisterians to deploy in numbers in the Lyon half and impose pressure and sharp transitions.
Untenable, Mahdi Camara confirmed Brest’s domination by placing an unstoppable strike upon receiving a ball pushed back by Lucas Perri (1-0, 8th).
The former Stéphanois, who had disrupted the Lyon park in passing, added a layer by turning into a decisive passer, with a subtle backheel for Ludovic Ajorque, who pulled away to score from ” sharp “ the goal of the break (2-0, 25th).
Haidara and Amavi injured
Completely harmless for half an hour, the Lyonnais gradually got their heads above water at the end of the first period, while Brest seemed to be marking time physically.
It was finally Jordan Veretout, receiving a good overflow and a cross from Malik Fofana who gave OL hope in added time of the first period (2-1, 45+2) .
We could then fear for Brest, especially since Lyon displayed a much more enterprising face during the second act, but in “Champions League mode”the Ty Zefs demonstrated the solidity that they have repeatedly displayed on the continental scene.
They owe this in particular to their very solid goalkeeper Marco Bizot who disgusted Alexandre Lacazette by winning a face-to-face in the 29th before repelling a header from close range in the 69th.
Lyon coach Pierre Sage during the L1 match between his team and Brest on Saturday at the Stade Francis-Le Blé in Brest. / Fred TANNEAU / AFP
The VAR made a balanced contribution to the debates by refusing an equalizer to Corentin Tolisso just before the break, then a third Brest goal to Mama Baldé for an offside which was counted in millimeters.
The double bad news for Brest is the departure of Massadio Haidara and then his replacement Jordan Amavi, both due to injuries, in an already depleted defensive sector.
In the middle of the transfer window, Brest will undoubtedly redouble their thinking if they want to get through a crazy sequence without any problems where they will face six more teams between now and February 1, including their two Champions League matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid , and PSG in the championship.
