Separated by a solitary point in the Ligue 1 table, fellow strugglers Brest and Auxerre find themselves just outside the drop zone ahead of their crucial relegation six-pointer on Sunday.

With only four matches remaining, Auxerre travel to the Stade Francis-Le Ble with a two-point gap between them and the bottom four, while Brest possess a three-point cushion.

Match preview

Brest looked destined for the drop when they suffered four defeats in five outings across February and March, but a subsequent six-game unbeaten run gave the Pirates a much-needed lifeline.

Although Brest's hot streak was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Lorient last weekend – with an Ibrahima Kone brace cancelling out a Romain Del Castillo penalty – Eric Roy's men can take plenty of confidence from their recent performances.

Brest have been especially strong at the Stade Francis-Le Ble of late, notching three consecutive home victories over Toulouse, Nice and Nantes while achieving back-to-back clean sheets in their previous two.

Better still, the Pirates have lost just two of their last eight home league games, picking up four wins and two draws in the process, while they have also found the back of the net in each of their previous seven.

It would not be unfair to say that Brest have consistently flirted with relegation since gaining promotion to Ligue 1 in 2019, finishing 14th and 17th before rising to 11th last season, but they know what it takes to beat the drop.

Just like Brest, Auxerre endured a dire mid-season spell before turning things around, with Christophe Pelissier transforming the team's fortunes after replacing Jean-Marc Furlan in the Stade Abbe-Deschamps hot seat.

After suffering seven straight defeats between November and January, the Burgundy outfit found themselves second from bottom in the table, but Pelissier's side have made vast improvements since then.

Indeed, Auxerre have lost only two of their last 13 league matches, notching five wins and six draws along the way, with three victories and one defeat coming in their previous six outings.

Although Auxerre have taken two points from their last three games, they managed to record 1-1 draws against European-chasing Lille and in-form Clermont, as well as a narrow 2-1 defeat at Champions League-bound Marseille.

It is worth remembering that Auxerre gained promotion last year via the Ligue 2 playoffs, so Pelissier's men can be proud of their recent efforts, as they remain in control of their own destiny.

Team News

Brest look set to be without injured right-back Noah Fadiga for the remainder of the campaign, with Bordeaux loanee Alberth Elis also expected to miss Sunday's clash.

On a brighter note, key forward Franck Honorat returned from injury as he came off the bench last time out, with the 26-year-old sitting on six goals and six assists for the season.

Former Huddersfield Town striker Steve Mounie will continue to lead the line for the hosts, while ex-Norwich City midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou will continue to operate in the engine room.

On the flip side, Auxerre midfielder Elisha Owusu will miss the rest of the season with an Achilles tendon issue, while youngster Kays Ruiz-Atil also remains sidelined.

Having chalked up six goals and five assists this term, Nuno Da Costa will continue to support M'Baye Niang in attack, with Gauthier Hein expected to join the forward line.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Rayan Raveloson, Jubal and Isaak Toure will occupy the centre-back roles ahead of Romanian goalkeeper Ionut Radu.

Brest possible starting lineup:
Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Duverne; Less-Melou; Lemarechal, Belkebla, Magnetti, Le Douaron; Mounie

Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Radu; Raveloson, Jubal, Toure; Zedadka, Massengo, Toure, Mensah; Hein, Da Costa; Niang

We say: Brest 1-1 Auxerre

With both sides fighting for survival at the bottom end of the table, Brest and Auxerre look set to play out a tense and cagey draw at the Stade Francis-Le Ble.

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

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