Seventh in the standings two days before the end of the first phase of the Champions League, Brest could move closer to direct qualification for the round of 16 by beating Shakhtar Donetsk this Wednesday January 22 in Germany. But other scenarios are possible.
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With thirteen points in six matches, the Finistériens’ progress is already remarkable, almost miraculous for a team which had never tasted Europe just four months ago.
Almost assured of a place in the play-offs for reaching the eighth, there is even almost a one in three chance that Brest will be exempt. The condition is simple on paper: finish the league phase among the top eight.
Also read: Brest works miracles and hits the jackpot
Eleven teams have between 10 and 12 points and directly threaten Brest. It is therefore imperative to continue to keep the meter ticking.
We will go on the pitch to win the match, we will do it 100%.”
-Gregory LorenziSports Director Stade Brestois
“Today we have 13 points. Will we be able to take more? I don’t know but in any case I can tell you that every time we go on the pitch to win the match, we will do it 100%.“, proclaimed sports director Grégory Lorenzi after the victory against PSV Eindhoven (1-0), the previous day.
The Ty-Zefs have every interest in capitalizing on Wednesday, in Gelsenkirchen, against the Ukrainians forced by the war, for ten years, into exile in European competition which had led them to Warsaw or Hamburg in previous seasons.
The thousand Breton supporters who will have made the trip should be able to make themselves heard while around a third of the 60,000 places will be occupied, at best.
If the task seems within the reach of Eric Roy’s men, they will have to respect an adversary 27e in the standings, but experienced in C1 and who will play his last chance to dream again before finishing the first phase a few kilometers away, against Dortmund.
But the physical condition of the Ukrainians, who have only played friendly matches since December 15, more than a month, occupied in particular by an internship in Turkey, will definitely be one of the keys.
It’s up to Brest to use the impact, the pressure and the determination that he has constantly shown in this competition to offer himself a dream final against the defending champion, Real Madrid, in a week at Roudourou.
