The Gallic village finally gave in. Undefeated after four days of the Champions League, Stade Brestois was outclassed this Tuesday evening by FC Barcelona (3-0), new second in this 36-team European championship. A clear success for the Catalans, infinitely more powerful on paper (500 million euros in payroll compared to 8.4 million euros) and, logically, better on the pitch at the Montjuic stadium. Courage and desire sometimes clash with reality: Brest did not have the means to annoy Barça.
When faced with a mountain, the objective is to climb step by step, then hold on as best as possible until reaching the summit. Éric Roy’s collective knew it but saw its ambitions shattered at the first difficulty. The fault of his goalkeeper Marco Bizot, so decisive since the start of the European campaign. From the 9th minute of play, he missed on an aerial release, bringing Robert Lewandowski to the ground. Logical penalty for the locals. A golden opportunity for the Pole, who scores his 100th goal in the competition, his sixth already this season.
Aged 36, the former Dortmund and Bayern Munich star joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the trio of century-old scorers in the Champions League. The mountain is Barça. The giant is indeed “Lewy”. His sidekicks? The masters of tempo, named Pedri, Dani Olmo or the astonishing Marc Casado in the midfield. They dictate the rhythm of a team in their hands, suffocating Brest, limited to 30% ball possession in the first period. The Bretons are not discouraged but run a lot in the void and defend cornered in their camp.
Brest can continue to believe in qualification
With just one goal behind, nothing is impossible. Especially when Barça, which remained on 14 goals in three Champions League matches, fails to transform its domination. Marco Bizot becomes decisive again in front of Fermin Lopez, with his head (40th) then with his left foot (54th). Raphinha shoots a lot (28th, 50th), without success. As for Dani Olmo, he sees his point-blank shot saved by captain Brendan Chardonnet (61st). What is there to believe in it? Not really. Because in the opposite direction, opportunities are rare, despite sometimes profitable pressing from Hugo Magnetti or Mahdi Camara.
And as the most likely scenario predicted, Barça ended up finding the opening. Dani Olmo, with a devastating hook on Chardonnet in the area, offers himself a duel against Bizot and scores the break goal (66th), just before giving way to Gavi. Another ball handler, capable of continuing the stiff neck operation for the frenzied Bretons. The approximately 3,000 fans who traveled to Barcelona believed in the gap being reduced thanks to a goal from Mathias Pereira Lage on the counter-attack (76th), refused for offside. The last word belongs, again, to Robert Lewandowski, for the 3-0 (90th + 2).
This defeat does not change much in Brest’s journey among the giants of Europe. With 10 points on the clock, the French club can continue to believe in qualification, at least in the play-offs (it still has a probability of qualification estimated at 98%). Brest will undoubtedly have to secure their place among the 24 qualifiers in two weeks when they host PSV Eindhoven. He will then have a trip to negotiate against Shakhtar Donetsk before hosting the great Real Madrid to conclude. A slap, yes, but the dream is still allowed.
