Brest Eyes Stade de France for Champions League Advancement

Brest FC, the surprise package of this year’s Champions League, is considering a move to the prestigious Stade de France for their matches in the later stages of the competition. This decision comes as UEFA’s stadium requirements for the knockout phases differ from those of the group stage.

Currently, Brest plays their Champions League home games at Guingamp’s Stade du Roudourou, as their own Francis Le Blé stadium doesn’t meet UEFA standards. However, with the team’s unexpected success in the tournament, they are now looking at options for the more demanding knockout stages.

The Ligue 1 club has impressed in their debut European campaign, securing four victories against formidable opponents and drawing once with Bayer Leverkusen. With 13 points and two games remaining, Brest has all but guaranteed their progression to at least the playoff rounds.

The potential move to the 80,000-capacity Stade de France in Saint-Denis has raised concerns among Brest supporters, given the 600km distance from their hometown. However, the club’s management sees it as a viable option to meet UEFA’s stricter requirements for the latter stages of the competition.

Interestingly, Guingamp’s mayor, Philippe Le Goff, has stated that they have received no official communication from Brest regarding future plans. This lack of information has left Guingamp in a state of uncertainty about hosting further Champions League matches.

As Brest prepares for their remaining group stage matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid, the club’s decision on their future Champions League venue remains a topic of keen interest for fans and officials alike.