Metz vs Bastia preview - Bastia suffer Brandao ban blow - 7M sport

Metz vs Bastia preview - Bastia suffer Brandao ban blow



Posted Saturday, September 20, 2014 by PA

Bastia's preparations for Saturday's trip to Metz in Ligue 1 have been dealt a huge blow after striker Brandao was hit with a six-month ban.

The Brazilian, who joined Claude Makelele's side from Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the summer, was handed the lengthy suspension by the Ligue de Football Professionnel after footage emerged of him appearing to headbutt Paris St Germain's Thiago Motta last month.

The incident, which left Motta with a broken nose, happened in the tunnel shortly after Bastia lost 2-0 to PSG at the Parc des Princes on August 16.

Brandao will now miss the next 21 Ligue 1 matches for Bastia after making just two appearances for his new club.

An LFP statement read: "After hearing players Thiago Motta and Brandao accompanied by representatives of both clubs, the Commission imposes a six-month suspension on Brandao for his actions towards Thiago Motta. Brandao will be qualified to play again from February 22, 2015."

His absence will only complicate matters for new boss Makelele, whose side have had trouble finding the net consistently ever since an opening day goals spree during their 3-3 draw with Marseille - the three goals they managed that day are 50 per cent of their total tally so far.

It is not the Corsican club's only hangover from their defeat to PSG - their only loss so far - with El Hadji Ba also set to serve a one-match ban against Metz for a dangerous tackle he made on Motta himself.

Bastia needed a second-half equaliser from Guillaume Gillet to scrape a 1-1 draw at Lens last time out and Makelele wants his charges to prepare for another battle.

"I told the players that the upcoming games would be difficult and we got a taste against Lens," he told the club's website, www.sc-bastia.net. "It will be a physical battle and we will meet there."

If scoring goals is a concern for Bastia it is a source of panic for newly-promoted Metz.

They have only scored three times so far this season - with two of those coming from Yeni Ngbakoto - and they devastatingly lost 1-0 at Nice at least week, with Alexy Bosetti's winner coming deep into stoppage time.

But fresh hope arrives for them in the form of Florent Malouda, who signed a one-year deal with Les Grenats earlier this week as a free agent.

The 34-year-old, who played alongside Makelele at Chelsea for one season, has been cleared to make his debut at the weekend.

When asked about facing his former team-mate, single-minded Makelele added: "The opposing team does not interest me. I know Florent and his qualities. Only our game is important to me."



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