Bet highlight:

1. PSG in fine form
2. Back-to-back league games at the start of February
3. Big difference in quality between the two teams

Full analysis:

The Champions League play-offs pit two French sides against each other. While PSG are among the big favourites to win it all, Brest's progress to the knockout stages of the competition is a surprise. However, you have to take into account the draw, which has given the two teams very different routes to the knockout stages.

Brest were lucky to have an opponent at all. Salzburg were one of the worst teams in the entire group stage, picking up just 3 points and recording the worst goal difference in the group with 5:27. Sparta Prague's other opponent, Brest, caught up with them at the perfect time, when the Prague team was in a state of disrepair and facing a major crisis in terms of matches and results. They also took all three points from Austrian minnows Sturm Graz. This was followed by a valuable draw against Leverkusen and a win against PSV. The team then suffered back-to-back 3-0 defeats at the hands of Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as a 2-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk.

PSG started the competition in the opposite style. After beating minnows Girona, Luis Enrique's selection was of a different calibre. Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Munich all ended with PSG picking up 0 points. What's more, the match itself was far from dazzling. The turning point came in the big game against Manchester City. PSG desperately needed a win to keep their play-off hopes alive. Although PSG were the better side against the Cityzens, they went down 0-2 in the second half. However, a great performance saw them run out 4-2 winners at the end of the day to keep themselves in contention for promotion. However, they still had to face Stuttgart in their final group match. Anyone expecting a drama-filled encounter was disappointed, as PSG dominated the game and ran out 4-1 winners.

And it was the end of the Champions League group stage that showed where both teams stand at the moment. PSG have risen from the ashes and are playing some great football, while Brest have lost their way after a great start to the season, which is reflected in the French league table. PSG are 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, with Brest 22 points adrift in eighth.

Aside from the quality and depth of their squad, what else does PSG have going for them? The form of Dembélé, who has scored 16 goals in his last 10 games in all competitions. The two clubs also met in the league a few days ago, on 1 February. PSG thrashed Brest 5-2 at their own ground. Dembélé scored a hat-trick in the process. I expect another dominant performance from PSG this time around and am backing them to win at odds of 2.00 in the Asian handicap of -1.5.