Brest in dreamland after perfect start to debut UCL campaign

It was against all the odds that the Brittany side finished third in Ligue 1 last season, comfortably their best ever performance allowing them to qualify for Europe for the first time. Not just any European competition either, but straight into the league phase of the new-look Champions League, with 36 clubs together in one giant pool. There, after two matches, Brest sit second out of 36 teams with a maximum six points, behind only Borussia Dortmund, and ahead of Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Asked last week for his thoughts on Brest's start this season, coach Eric Roy responded drily: "Not much other than we could have done much better in the Champions League. It is a bit disappointing that we are only second. We will have to try to improve that." The problem is things might be about to get far harder. The fixtures so far have been kind, even if Brest deserve huge credit for beating Austrian champions Sturm Graz 2-1 on their debut in the competition and then claiming a stunning 4-0 victory in Salzburg.

Again with a touch of humour, Roy remarked in a post-match television interview those results only showed his team could maybe win the Austrian league. Next up for Brest is a home meeting on Wednesday against German champions Bayer Leverkusen, who went through the whole of last season unbeaten domestically. Leverkusen also have a 100 percent record in this season's Champions League and represent a huge step-up from what Brest have faced so far.

- Barcelona, Real to come -

After that, Brest also have to play the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Barca and Real. Nevertheless, Brest's start means they can definitely dream of prolonging their adventure into the knockout round play-offs in February. While the Bretons fly high in Europe, they are currently 11th in Ligue 1, although they have rediscovered some form after losing three of their first four games, and Roy has indicated there is plenty more to come from his players. "What we did last season was not normal, but it didn't just fall from the sky either," he said recently.

That said, Brest have lost some key members of the squad from last season, with defensive lynchpin Lilian Brassier and strikers Steve Mounie and Martian Satriano all leaving. Left-back Bradley Locko, who won Olympic silver with France, is out long-term with a ruptured achilles, while midfield maestro Pierre Lees-Melou has only just returned from a leg fracture.

No big-name summer signings were made, despite the financial windfall of European football. Their most notable recruit is Senegal forward Abdallah Sima, with the Brighton loanee netting three goals in the first two Champions League games. That included the winner against Sturm Graz, in a home game played not in their own stadium but at the Stade du Roudourou, more than 100 kilometres from Brest in Guingamp. Brest have to play there, because their creaking Stade Francis-Le Ble fails to meet UEFA's safety requirements. Champions League football really came too soon for Brest, who have plans in place to build a new 15,000-seat ground by 2027.

"It was unimaginable. We have always been humble. We are learning every day," club president Denis Le Saint told media after the Champions League draw was made. Brest are a world away from the state-owned clubs and other giants of the global game who are also in the Champions League. Le Saint runs a food distribution business with his brother Gerard, who is the president of the local women's handball club, one of the top teams in France.

"This experience in Europe will help us grow and get to know the top level. We have a small budget but we have great supporters and good partners who are positive about the club's future," said Denis Le Saint, who nevertheless made clear where the priority lies. "Our first wish is to make sure we stay in Ligue 1.

 

October 21, 2024