Olympique de Marseille travels to the Stade Francis-Le Blé this Friday, February 20, 2026, for a high-stakes Ligue 1 encounter against Stade Brestois 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 PM local time (2:45 PM ET) as both sides look to solidify their positions in the top half of the table during Matchday 23.
Habib Beye Debuts Amid Marseille Managerial Shake-up
The biggest storyline heading into Friday’s fixture is the debut of Habib Beye as Marseille’s new manager. Following a week of significant changes behind the scenes, Beye is expected to implement a 3-4-2-1 formation. Reports suggest that Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri is set for a major role under the new leadership, potentially returning to the starting XI to provide creative spark alongside star forward Mason Greenwood, who currently sits among the league’s top scorers with 14 goals.
Head-to-Head and Key Statistics
Historical data favors the visitors, though Brest has proven to be a resilient opponent at home. Here are the essential stats heading into the match:
- All-Time Record: Marseille holds the advantage with 19 wins in 34 meetings across all competitions, while Brest has secured 9 victories.
- Recent Form: Marseille has won four of the last five head-to-head encounters, including a dominant 3-0 victory in their most recent clash.
- Scoring Trends: Matches between these two average 2.89 goals. Marseille has been particularly prolific this season, with 68% of their games exceeding 2.5 total goals.
- League Standings: Marseille enters the weekend in 4th place, while Brest currently occupies the 12th spot.
Players to Watch and Betting Odds
Brest will rely heavily on Romain Del Castillo, who has netted seven goals this season, to break down the Marseille defense. Oddsmakers have positioned Marseille as the favorites with odds hovering around -115 (1.90 decimal), implying a 53% probability of an away win. Brest is currently priced as the underdog at +280 (3.80 decimal).
Prop bets are drawing significant interest for several key players, including Brest’s Ludovic Ajorque and Hugo Magnetti, as well as Marseille’s Hamed Junior Traoré. With Marseille facing mounting pressure to maintain their European qualification spot, the tactical battle between Beye’s new system and Brest’s home-field advantage remains the focal point of the weekend’s Ligue 1 action.
How to Watch
Fans in the United States can catch the action live on beIN SPORTS or stream the match via the beIN SPORTS CONNECT app. Live updates and box scores will be available throughout the evening on FOX Sports and Flashscore.