Brest are looking to achieve a historic upset in the Champions League as they go head-to-head with their French counterparts, PSG.
Nolan James Feb 10
Brest finished 18th in the Champions League group stage with 13 points from eight matches, defying expectations by securing a playoff spot. Initially tipped to finish among the bottom 12, they exceeded predictions and even looked on course for a top-eight finish after collecting seven points from their first three games. Although their form dipped in the latter stages, their performance remained impressive.
Currently sitting 8th in Ligue 1, Brest are experiencing a notable decline from last season’s success, making it likely that this will be their last Champions League campaign for some time. Their third-place finish last season was a shock, and it now appears to have been a one-off rather than a sign of long-term progress.
The team’s attacking threat comes primarily from Ludovic Ajorque and Abdallah Sima, who have scored 10 and 8 goals respectively this season. If Brest are to pull off a massive upset, these two will be instrumental.
However, Brest were handed a tough draw against PSG, which diminishes some of the magic of their maiden Champions League knockout appearance. Facing domestic opposition takes away the excitement of playing a European giant, and given their poor head-to-head record against PSG, it’s a daunting challenge.
PSG finished 12th in the Champions League group stage, also earning 13 points from eight games. However, their performance fell short of expectations, as a squad of their caliber should have comfortably secured a top-eight finish. Despite a slow start, they improved significantly as the competition progressed—mirroring their overall season trajectory.
Under Luis Enrique, PSG have transformed into one of the tournament favorites. The Spanish coach has implemented a fluid attacking system without a traditional number nine, with Ousmane Dembélé thriving as the team’s main attacking threat. Currently enjoying the best season of his career, Dembélé has been PSG’s standout performer.
Their recent form has drawn praise from across Ligue 1, with Monaco manager Adi Hütter calling them "the best PSG I have seen," and club captain Denis Zakaria echoing similar sentiments.
Despite years of underachievement in the Champions League, PSG may never have a better chance to claim the title. With no clear dominant team in this year’s competition, they could finally end their long wait for European glory. Before they think too far ahead, however, they must first dispatch Brest—a task they should handle with ease.
Brest enter this fixture with three wins and two losses in their last five matches. They secured a solid 2-0 victory over Nantes on Friday, with goals from Ludovic Ajorque and Pierre Lees-Melou, following a 2-1 Coupe de France win over Troyes, where Ibrahim Salah and Abdallah Sima found the net. However, they have also suffered heavy defeats, including a 5-2 thrashing by PSG and a 3-0 loss to the Parisians in their previous encounter.
Meanwhile, PSG come into this match in red-hot form, boasting four wins and a draw from their last five outings. They dominated Monaco with a 4-1 win at the weekend, thanks to goals from Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and a brace from Dembélé. Before that, they eased past Le Mans in the Coupe de France (2-0), crushed Brest 5-2 with another Dembélé masterclass, and secured a 4-1 victory against Stuttgart. Their only recent setback was a 1-1 draw with Reims.
It is difficult to envision anything other than a convincing PSG victory. The Parisians dismantled Brest 5-2 in Ligue 1 just a few weeks ago and have won four of their last five meetings. Brest have never beaten PSG in their history, and there is little reason to believe that will change here.
On top of that, PSG are in outstanding form, currently unbeaten in their last 16 matches and winning nine of their last ten. Ousmane Dembélé is on a blistering scoring streak, netting 10 goals in his last five games. Given his form and PSG’s dominance, this match is likely to be a routine win for the visitors.
