Expect Le Mans to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1, with the double pivot of Gaudin and Buadés shielding the back four. The attacking midfield trio of Rossignol, Brahimi, and the lively Mafouta will look to knife through Brest's lines, with Guèye leading the line. They will press high, feed off the crowd, and try to force Brest into mistakes. The full-backs, Lauray and Yohou, will push on, looking to create overloads in wide areas. This is a side that will not sit back. They will come at Brest from the first whistle.

Brest are also expected in a 4-2-3-1, but their approach will be more cautious. They will look to control the tempo, keep the ball, and hit on the counter. The double pivot will sit deep, protecting the centre-backs, and they will rely on the wide players to stretch the pitch. Their set-piece threat is real, and they will fancy their chances from dead-ball situations. But this is a team in flux. The loss of Jauny, the focus on youth, the lack of a settled spine — it all points to a side that might struggle to impose themselves away from home. Le Mans will smell blood. They will press, harry, and force Brest into a midfield dogfight. And in that kind of battle, the hungrier team usually wins.