(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights BREST - MONTPELLIER

As Ligue 1 Ubris returned from its winter break, Brest looked to pick up where they left off in 2023 when they hosted Montpellier on Sunday afternoon. The home side ended the year in extraordinary form, rising improbably into the top four, to winning five and drawing one in their final six games, scoring 14 and conceding just two during that run. Montpellier had also ended the year reasonably well, defeated in three, though both sides had progressed through to the final 32 at the Coupe de France where French football returned last week. It was the recent big winners in the league though who started the game on top, and perhaps should have opened the scoring. They thought they had when Steve Meunier found the net with a header only for Villar to rule it offside. He had another chance soon after, first cross evading everyone in the middle, the second was saved, it fell to Meunier, he could only head over the bar from close range, head in hands for the big number nine. Down the other end, Kelvin Yeboah forced a good save from Marco Bizotte, the Italian scored his first goal for Montpellier since joining this summer in the Coupe de France, high on confidence, not far from his first in the league. There was one more opportunity for the head of Meunier before half-time, ball worked out to the right, whipped in with a tame header in the end on this occasion. So goalless at the break, but Hugo Magnetti was clearly paying attention to manager Eric Kvaal's team talk. He promptly put Brest 1-0 up within three minutes of the restart. Meunier with good hold-up play, Madi Kamra then doing the legwork, playing Magnetti in with an incisive pass, and the midfielder keeping his composure to take it past Benjamin Lecomte with his first touch and stroke the ball home with his second. His maiden Ligue 1 Uber Eats home goal sparking wild celebrations around the Stade Francis Le Bley. Brest had the momentum, and Matias Pereira-Large arguably should have ended the game as a contest just after the hour mark. Intricate build-up play, killer ball, Portuguese could only fire it across the goal. Then it was the turn of Jeremie Le Duran, good tenacity to get the chance, well saved. His fate of substitutions did little to alter what looked an assured Brest victory, but a freak moment in defence nearly undid all their good work. Substitute Wabi Qazri, a kind bounce. Yeboah, though, couldn't take advantage. There was to be a second goal, but it would go with the run of play. Points wrapped up in added time. This time, Le Duran would finish the chance into the bottom corner. 2-0 in all three points, heading the way of the home side. The Pirates continue to sail towards the promised land, Monaco's defeat allowing them to move into the third and final Champions League qualification spot, whilst Montpellier are now within two points of Lyon in the relegation play-off spot.