Brest vs PSG Odds & Prediction – Ligue 1 Matchday 3

• Neither Lionel Messi nor Neymar are in the Paris Saint-Germain squad for Friday’s Ligue 1 visit to Stade Brest
• French powerhouse will have Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to call upon as PSG looks to maintain a perfect start to the season
• Read on for betting odds, full preview and a best bet for this early season Ligue 1 match between two unbeaten teams

Paris Saint-Germain fans eager for a first look at Lionel Messi in a Ligue 1 game will have to wait at least another week. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino decided against including him or Neymar in his match-day squad for Friday’s visit to Brest as the pair try to get up to full fitness.

But even without the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, the capital club are heavy -380 favorites to make it three straight wins to open the French season.

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Brest has begun the 2021-22 campaign with two straight draws, away at Lyon and at home against Rennes. But PSG is a totally different proposition, and even without Messi and Neymar, Pochettino can call on the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Marco Verratti.

Brest vs PSG Odds

Odds as of August 19 at DraftKings

PSG’s Offensive Arsenal

With six goals through two games, PSG is already the top-scoring team in the French top flight. Just imagine what heights the team might scale once Messi and Neymar get inserted into the lineup?

No Messi and no Neymar tomorrow night in Brest for PSG https://t.co/wuLQNTtffm

— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) August 19, 2021

But it’s fair to say the team’s offense has hardly suffered in their absence. Also without the likes of Di Maria and Verratti – with both in line for their season debuts on Friday – PSG has looked like a team firing on most of its cylinders. Regulars Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler and Mbappe have all already found the net, while newly signed wingback Achraf Hakimi got off the mark just minutes into his Ligue 1 debut.

Messi and Mbappe linking up in training 👌

(🎥 @PSG_English)pic.twitter.com/TJDDDr0z3V

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 17, 2021

So while it is likely a chilling thought for the rest of the division, it is possible that PSG is just getting started.

Brest Unbeaten

For a team that escaped relegation by just one point last season, starting off this campaign with back-to-back draws against a pair of top-six sides from last season is an admirable effort. But it will take more than just effort to get a result at home to Paris.

GOAL FOR BREST!

Jérémy Le Douaron finds the equalizer in stoppage time to make it 1-1 between them and Rennes. #SB29SRFC pic.twitter.com/OgUO62UvaX

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) August 15, 2021

For one thing, Les Pirates will have to maintain their stingy defensive ways, having given up just one goal in each game so far. But while that is perhaps realistic against Rennes and Lyon, against a team that scored 86 goals last year – and is arguably even better this year – is going to require something of a footballing miracle.

👀Check out the latest table after a thrilling weekend of action! 📈📉

🗣️ How did your team do? pic.twitter.com/alBaIsy74V

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 16, 2021

And just as crucial for Brest’s hopes is to keep pressing offensively, having scored just one goal in four games against PSG since returning to the top flight in 2019. The hosts will do well to match the attacking intent of their first two games, with their 13 shots on target enough to have them second in Ligue 1 in that category.

Brest vs PSG Key Stats

PSG Has Inside Track

In 31 all-time meetings, Paris has 17 wins and 11 draws in the head-to-head series, losing just three times, scoring 53 goals and conceding just 22 in the process. Brest’s last win over PSG was all the way back in the 1984-85 season, meaning that PSG has gone unbeaten in the last 21 meetings between the teams in both league and cup clashes.

PSG is also in a rich vein of form. Despite losing the championship to Lille last season, the Parisian club has taken 25 from the last 27 available to it and has won eight of its last games away from home.

Best bet: PSG -2.5 (+160)