“I don’t even know what country they come from”, what Catalan supporters think of the surprising Bretons

This Tuesday, FC Barcelona welcomes Stade Brestois (9 p.m.) for an unprecedented display in the history of the Champions League. If the Catalan club claims to take the match very seriously, some supporters are barely discovering their team's opponent.

It's a poster that we wouldn't necessarily have thought we'd see one day in the Champions League. This Tuesday, the people of Barcelona will discover the Stade Brestois. “I honestly don’t know this club! I don’t even know what country it comes from,” admits Pau, a Blaugrana supporter. “I just knew it was a first division club, but it surprised me a lot when they qualified for the Champions League last season,” confides Marc, a few steps from a Camp Nou under construction.

But on the club side, we take the opponent much more seriously than that. “It's no coincidence that they haven't lost a match. If we disrespect them, we will pay dearly,” warns defender Iñigo Martinez.

“Since Monaco, the French are more frightening”

The Barcelona staff analyzed Brest's game, retaining “set pieces” and “transitions” as the main qualities according to coach Hansi Flick. “They deserve their 10 points. They are on pace in the Champions League. They are struggling in the league but they are a good team,” said the German at a press conference on the eve of the match.

On paper, these 10 points even rank the irresistible Bretons in 4th place, better than Barça's 6th position, which has one point less. “Since the defeat against Monaco (in September), the French teams are a little more scary,” slips Kim, another supporter. On the first day, Barcelona lost on the Monaco pitch (2-1). Lille's exploits against Real (1-0) and Atlético (1-3) also contribute to the caution of some in Spain.

A poor form which worries more than the Brest opponent

But according to the club's followers, Barça's main opponent remains itself this Tuesday. Stade Brestois only occupied a tiny part of the questions asked by local journalists on the eve of the match. It is rather the recent poor form of Hansi Flick's men which is worrying, they who remain with a defeat and a draw in the championship.

“We have the opportunity to win and forget our last two games. Our mentality is not to speculate on the number of points we need to qualify, but just to win,” clarified Iñigo Martinez. In short, it is not a “small match” for Barça, but rather a poster that has become important thanks to the strength of recent results.

In the Catalan city, the excitement surrounding the match is limited, far from the obvious enthusiasm of Brest supporters. However, Barça must win this European duel, at the risk of seeing a new failure darken its almost dream start to the season.