Le Mans vs Stade Brestois 29 — Tips & Analysis

Under 2.5: Brest barely score when they travel. They managed well under a goal a game on the road last season. They also lost three of their last five, including a 0-4 at Paris FC and a 0-1 at Paris Saint Germain. Nothing about that team says goals. Le Mans are built the same way. They did not lose a home game last season, winning 3 and tying 3, and they hardly let anything in there. They tied 6 of their last 13 games in all, and only 5 of those 13 had 3 or more goals. Brest are no busier. They won 4, tied 4 and lost 6 of their last 14. Games ending with 2 goals or fewer landed about 6 times in 10 for both of these sides. Add an opening day where neither club has played a competitive game in more than three months. Rusty teams take fewer chances and score fewer goals. Le Mans are without the suspended Voyer and Brest miss Chardonnet, so neither side is at full strength. A 1-0 to the home team is the read, and one goal is nowhere near enough to hurt this. The only worry is that all of Le Mans' numbers come from Ligue 2, so their defense is stepping up a level. We are backing the quiet game.