Real Madrid 3-0 Brest
Rodrygo Shines, Bellingham Scores, but Real Madrid Miss Out on Last 16 Spot
Real Madrid wrapped up the Champions League league phase with a convincing 3-0 victory over Brest, thanks to a brace from Rodrygo and a goal from Jude Bellingham. However, despite their dominant performance, results elsewhere meant the defending champions fell short of automatic qualification for the last 16 and must now navigate a play-off, with a potential showdown against Manchester City or Celtic on the horizon.
The game started with early chances for both Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo, but Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot denied the latter with a fine save. The breakthrough finally came in the 27th minute when Rodrygo weaved through the Brest defence before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.
Brest thought they had an equalizer early in the second half when Ludovic Ajorque found the net under pressure, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Madrid quickly capitalized, with Bellingham orchestrating and finishing a brilliant move. He surged forward from midfield, played the ball wide, and timed his run perfectly to slot home the return pass.
Rodrygo then sealed the win with his second of the night, reacting quickest to Mbappe’s parried shot and flicking the ball into the net with a clever finish.
Despite the win, Madrid finished 11th in the table, meaning they will have to fight for their place in the knockout rounds through a play-off.
Goalkeeper & Defence
- Thibaut Courtois: Made some important saves to keep a clean sheet and had a solid evening between the posts.
- Lucas Vazquez: Worked tirelessly up and down the right flank before being substituted.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni: Found himself targeted by Brest’s attack but stepped up with some key defensive interventions.
- Antonio Rüdiger: Had a relatively quiet night defensively but impressed with his distribution and a remarkable headed clearance.
- Ferland Mendy: Put in a steady performance at left-back after a spell out of the starting lineup but may still face competition from Fran Garcia.
Midfield
- Federico Valverde: Struggled to impose himself and appeared fatigued as the game progressed.
- Luka Modric: Showed his class with some elegant passing, linking up well with Mbappe.
- Jude Bellingham: Pressed relentlessly, found space between the lines, and capped off his performance with a well-taken goal.
Attack
- Brahim Diaz: Had little influence on the match and failed to create any real chances.
- Kylian Mbappe: Threatened from the start despite being jeered by Brest fans. Came close to scoring but was denied by some fine saves.
- Rodrygo: The standout performer, full of energy and creativity, and finished both his goals with confidence.
Madrid may have secured a comfortable win, but the real test awaits as they now prepare for a crucial play-off to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
