With 13 points already collected, the surprising Bretons secured first place in Ligue 1 at home (1-0) on Saturday.
In Ligue 1, the sun is now rising in the west. After six days of Ligue 1, and even before the five matches on Sunday September 24, Stade Brestois is assured of being leader of the championship at the end of the weekend, after having come close to relegation last year. Obviously, this unexpected scenario makes the Bretons smile, like Steve Mounié, laughing at the Canal + microphone: “We’re going to take screenshots (screenshots of the leaderboard) and we will keep that preciously”. Author of the winning goal against OL on Saturday September 23, the Brest striker preferred to smile, even if Brest no longer makes anyone laugh.
The Lyonnais experienced it, drinking the cup in the harbor for Fabio Grosso’s first on the sidelines. With only six shots attempted, compared to 27 suffered, they have still not recorded a victory this season and are experiencing their worst start in Ligue 1 in forty-four years. Across the way, we share an ingredient in the magic recipe. “We’ve been a group of friends for quite a few years, the new ones fit in well. It creates osmosis, with the city too,” notes Steve Mounié.
Close-knit pirates
Returning to Ligue 1 in 2019-2020, Stade Brestois is only playing its eighteenth season in the elite, despite one of the smallest budgets in France. Which resulted in a very calm transfer window in Finistère, in terms of arrivals. On Saturday, Martin Satriano was the only summer recruit and, even he, knew the house since he played there for six months in 2022. Despite the departures of the two executives Haris Belkebla (captain) and Franck Honorat, Eric Roy’s men are still riding their second part of last season (29 points won out of 57 possible), which saw them maintain their position after a catastrophic start to the season.
A momentum which took them to this unexpected leadership position, which the Brestois had not known since the 13th day of the 2010-2011 season. The dynamic is all the more surprising since the Finistère club surprised everyone last January by entrusting the keys to the truck to Eric Roy, who had not coached for twelve years and his only adventure in Nice, for barely one season. .
“I’m sure he worked a lot before coming, to be ready from the start. He arrived quietly, without making a fuss. He got his bearings, and everything happened naturally.”Romain Del Castillo, great architect of the current form of Brestois, recently explained to So Foot. The Pirates striker added: “We may need recruits, but I prefer to keep the spine. […] Having the same framework each year helps avoid a delay in ignition.”
Stability pays off. After taming the French vice-champions Lensois in the opening, Stade Brestois dominated Le Havre, Reims and therefore Lyon, in addition to a draw against Rennes. The only downside: a defeat at the Vélodrome, against Marseille, despite a convincing performance.
With his uninhibited and resolutely offensive game, everything is smiling at the moment at Stade Brestois. “It’s completely deserved. We are a united, united, generous team”summarized Pierre Lees-Melou at the microphone of Canal +, before warning: “Be careful, we are not going to say that we are playing for the title or that we are playing for Europe! We are aware that we are not necessarily in our place, but we did not steal it either.”