Cristian Battocchio scored a hat-trick as Brest enjoyed a night to remember, running out 5-0 winners at home to Strasbourg.
Stade Brestois 29 5-0 RC Strasbourg Alsace
THE MATCH
Olivier Dall'Oglio's decision to freshen up his side and switch tactics to a 4-4-2 midfield diamond paid off spectacularly as Brest thrilled the Stade Francis Le Blé crowd. Lebo Mothiba (3') had the first noteworthy attempt for the visitors, who'd beaten Amiens 4-0 in their last away game, but Brest took the lead in the 21st minute through Alexandre Mendy who concluded a fine team move with an emphatic left-footed shot.
Brest were two to the good just before half-time (45+1') as Battocchio scored his first goal of the season with the aid of a deflection off Strasbourg defender Mohamed Simakan. Nuno Da Costa (47') headed narrowly wide at the start of the second half but Strasbourg knew they'd be making the long trip home with nothing when Battocchio scored his second (53') with a powerful 25-metre strike that gave Matz Sels no chance.
The hat-trick goal (75') was set up by substitute Mathias Autret and Battocchio applied the side-footed finish to another glorious team move. Battocchio's night wasn't done as in added time (90+2') he was fouled in the box by Dimitri Liénard, who was cautioned. Ferris N'Goma added more power to the Brest wheel by blasting home the penalty.
THE PLAYER: Cristian Battocchio
Born in Argentina and a former Italian Under-21s international, Battocchio returned to Brest at the start of 2019 after a spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv. The 27-year-old midfielder hadn't scored a Ligue 1 Conforama goal until the Strasbourg game and will never forget his 30 minute hat-trick, the first scored by a Brest player since Bernard Ferrer in February 1991 against Lyon.
THE STAT: 1
Brest have lost only one home game this season (2-1 to PSG on November 9), winning four times and drawing four times.
