Brest and Paris Saint-Germain swap Ligue 1 for Europe as they gear up for a high-stakes playoff first leg at Stade du Roudourou in Guingamp, France.
Both sides finished the league phase on 13 points, with PSG’s superior goal difference earning them a seeded spot. The capital giants remain on a quest for their first Champions League title despite a rocky start to the season. Their ambition is palpable as they look to extend their domestic dominance.
PSG struggled initially, winning only one of their first five matches in the 2024-25 season. They rediscovered their form with three emphatic wins, including 4-1 thrashings of Stuttgart and Monaco. These results, coupled with a 16-match unbeaten run across all competitions, have reinvigorated hopes ahead of their European charge.
Meanwhile, Brest has emerged as a surprise contender in the league phase. The visitors recorded three wins in their opening four games and even held Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen to a draw. Their playoff qualification marks a historic moment, with a French side not progressing to the knockout rounds since Nice in 1956-57.
Injury concerns add extra tension to the encounter. PSG will miss teenage prospects Warren Zaire-Emery and Ibrahim Mbaye due to ankle sprains. Brest are also sidelined by Bradley Locko, Karamoko Dembele, and midfielder Jonas Martin.
Tactically, PSG will rely on new signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left, operating alongside a prolific Ousmane Dembele, fresh from a hat-trick against Stuttgart and a brace against Monaco. Brest’s towering frontman, Ludovic Ajorque who applied an astounding 447 pressures in the league phase promises to challenge PSG’s defense.
