Third before the 32nd day of Ligue 1, Stade Brestois is one point ahead of fourth, Lille, before hosting Nantes, Saturday May 4, 2024 (9 p.m.). He can put pressure on Lille, who face Lyon on Monday (9 p.m.), but will not be able to validate his place on the podium, even in the event of a poor performance from the Northerners.
In other words, if a place in the European Cup is assured for Éric Roy’s men since the crazy success in Rennes, Sunday April 28 (4-5), nothing will be able to determine the nature of the European Cup at the end of this 32nd day of Ligue 1, because Nice, fifth and five points behind, will only play their match against PSG on May 15, postponed due to the Parisians’ Champions League semi-final.
Qualifying round then play-off…
Nevertheless, this 32nd day of Ligue 1 will give a new clue on the ability of Brestois to maintain their place on the podium, facing pressing Lille. “If we are third with three days remaining, it’s because we deserve it. We showed some great things and I think we can say it, because it’s complicated to hide it now: we want to stay on the podium! », Commented Brendan Chardonnet, the Brest captain, after the victory in Rennes.
Brest would indeed be inspired to keep this third place, directly qualifying for the league phase of the new format of the Champions League. Because fourth place only gives access to the third qualifying round for the C1. A return match to be played on August 6-7 then August 13, 2024, before a final play-off match, if successful, to be played on August 20-21 and 27-28. Ligue 1 will start on August 16.
And in the event of a preliminary defeat?
With the uncertainty, in the end, of not playing in the Champions League at all and the additional constraint of starting the season earlier than the others. All in a transfer window context with numbers still uncertain and not definitively finalized. The league phase (the former group phase) of the Champions League, with its eight guaranteed matches, would then be played between September 17-19, 2024 and January 29, 2025. If it finishes fourth in Ligue 1 and in the event of defeat during these qualifying round or play-off matches, Brest would be automatically transferred to the league phase (ex-group phase) of the Europa League and would thus still be guaranteed to play on the European scene next season.
The Champions League play-off schedule
3rd qualifying round: August 6-7 (one way) and August 13, 2024.
Dam : August 20-21 and 27-28, 2024.
#French
