Having finished third in Ligue 1 last season and automatically qualifying for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) league phase, Brest now embark on a first-ever European campaign. Set to become the 12th different French club to play in the UCL group/league stage, they are one of just five clubs making their debut in Europe’s premier competition this term despite more clubs than ever being involved.
Éric Roy’s side begin their European journey on the back of just one win from their opening four Ligue 1 games (L3). Each of their three defeats so far this season have seen 2+ goals conceded, with at least one let in by half-time in all three games. On the flip side, their one victory came by a 4-0 margin, and they’d scored two by half-time in that success, so goals in the opening 45 minutes have been a running theme in their matches.
Austrian Bundesliga champions Sturm Graz make the trip to Stade Francis-Le Blé having never won in France (D1, L3), with last season’s UEFA Europa Conference League campaign coming to an end in the Round of 16 in Lille. The goal Sturm netted in the 1-1 draw in the second leg of that tie was their first away against a French team, having conceded eight without reply in the previous three defeats.
Thursday’s clash will see Die Schwoazn appear in the UCL proper for the first time since the 2001/02 campaign after losing five times in qualifying since then. The Austrians have lost their opening match in each of their three previous UCL campaigns, but Christian Ilzer’s side travel to France having won their last five matches across all competitions, scoring 2+ goals in each of those.
Players to watch: Romain Del Castillo has had a goal involvement in all three games that have seen Brest find the back of the net so far this season (G2, A1), scoring in the first half in their last two games. Sturm Graz’s Mika Biereth has four goal involvements in his first five Austrian Bundesliga appearances this term (G3, A1) with all of those coming in the second half.
Hot stat: All ten previous European Cup/UCL meetings between French and Austrian clubs have been won by the home side.
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