Brest will be looking to steer themselves clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone when they host Nice at Stade Francis Le Ble on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts are 16th in the table, just two points clear of the relegation zone, while the visitors are in ninth place and could still make a late push for the European qualification places.

Match preview

Brest have regressed considerably after finishing 11th in Ligue 1 last season, and they are in real danger of being relegated to the second tier as we approach the business end of the season.

That said, there have been signs of improvement in recent weeks, with the Pirates picking up a very solid eight points in their last five games, losing only once, in which they conceded a gut-wrenching 90th-minute goal against league-leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite the defeat, manager Eric Roy can take plenty of positives from that performance against a star-studded side, and they have since gone unbeaten in their last three games, defeating Toulouse 3-1 in their last home match.

However, Brest will need to put a very poor recent record against Nice behind them if they are to take anything from Sunday's game, losing the last four meetings between the two sides in all competitions.

In the reverse fixture earlier this season, the Pirates lost 1-0 away at the Allianz Riviera courtesy of a second-half goal from Gaetan Laborde, and Sunday's game is likely to be another very tough encounter.

Indeed, no team in the league will be eager to come up against Nice at the moment, as they have lost just one of their last 16 games in all competitions, with the one defeat coming against PSG in their last home match.

Not only has Les Aiglons' form improved domestically, but they have also impressed considerably in Europe, advancing to the quarter-final stage of the Europa Conference League, recently drawing 2-2 away at Basel in the first leg.

Didier Digard's side are still in contention to qualify for Europe again, although it will be a tough ask, as they trail fifth-placed Lille by seven points with eight games left to play, meaning they would have to go on a near-perfect run.

Nice certainly cannot afford results akin to the one in their last Ligue 1 away match, in which they drew 1-1 against Angers, the team currently bottom of the table and almost certain to be relegated.

Despite being difficult to beat, Les Aiglons have drawn far too many games in recent weeks, including four of their last five in the league, and they will be hoping to bring that run to an end against a team they have a very good recent record against.

Team News

Brest will be without centre-back Christophe Herelle, who has missed the last two games through injury, so Brendan Chardonnet and Lilian Brassier should be expected to keep their places in the starting lineup.

Loic Remy has been a long-term absentee, failing to make an appearance for the Pirates since arriving at the beginning of February, and Steve Mounie is poised to lead the line, having scored five goals in 15 Ligue 1 games this season.

Nice have a number of injury issues to contend with, as Sofiane Diop, Youcef Atal and Mattia Viti all remain unavailable for selection, while Nicolas Pepe is the most recent player to be ruled out, after suffering a knee injury.

As such, Terem Moffi and Laborde are set to start at striker, with the former particularly impressing as of late, scoring three goals in his last three games.

Brest possible starting lineup:
Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Locko; Lees-Melou, Honorat, Belkebla, Camara, Le Douaron; Mounie

Nice possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Ndayishimiye, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Rosario, Ramsey, Thuram, Boudaoui; Moffi, Laborde

We say: Brest 1-1 Nice

Brest have displayed remarkable signs of improvement in recent weeks, coming so close to getting a positive result against PSG, therefore they should be good enough to get a point on Sunday.

Nice have a very good record against the Pirates, but drawing games has been a very common occurrence as of late, and it would not be a surprise if the spoils are shared again this weekend.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email