Even if UEFA preferred not to come forward so much, indicating that only Liverpool is, for the moment, officially qualified for the knockout phase, Brest's chances of continuing their European adventure after January are enormous.
If confirmed, it remains to be seen where Brest will finish the league stage. Because due to the new format of the C1, the direct elimination phase has also evolved. If Éric Roy's men finish between 9th and 24th place, they will have to go through play-offs.
“Teams finishing between 9th and 16th place will be seeded for the play-off table, meaning they will face a team ranked between 17th and 24th place, with the return match normally taking place at home.” , indicates the European Confederation. The teams will be distributed in pairs, on one side or the other of the table. After drawing lots, the 9th or 10th will face the 23rd or 24th and so on, which leaves a point of uncertainty, so as not to harm the interest of the eighth and final day.
Brest could face PSG or PSV
“Teams may face another team from the same national association in the knockout stage play-offs. Clubs can also face opponents they met during the championship phase,” specifies UEFA. The only exception may be for geopolitical reasons. So Stade Brestois could face Paris Saint-Germain or PSV Eindhoven in the play-offs.
These meetings will take place on February 11 or 12 on the outward journey and February 18 and 19 for the return. The draw will be made on January 31 in Nyon (Switzerland), two days after the last day of the league phase where the 18 matches will be played at the same time at 9 p.m.
The eighths if top 8
On the other hand, if Stade Brestois finishes in the top eight of the league phase, the Finistère club will be officially qualified and seeded for the round of 16. It will thus face one of the eight qualified clubs after the play-offs.
“The knockout stage matchups will also be determined in part by the league stage standings, with a draw also determining and defining the teams' path to reaching the final,” the European confederation said. The draw for these eighths (4 or 5 and 11 or 12 March) but also for the quarters (8 or 9 and 15 or 16 April) and the semi-finals (29 or 30 April and 6 or 7 May) will take place on February 21.
