France’s Champions League shock bundle Brest will proceed to play residence matches within the knockout section of Europe’s elite membership competitors in neighbouring Guingamp ought to they qualify, the membership introduced on Wednesday.
“The choice to proceed this historic Champions League marketing campaign on the Stade de Roudourou was self-evidently the best one,” stated Brest membership president Denis Le Saint.
Brest, who had by no means taken half in any European competitors earlier than this season, are at present seventh within the 36-team league section of the Champions League, with 13 factors from six video games.
With two matches nonetheless to play and the highest 24 groups all advancing to the knockout section, Brest are six factors higher off than French rivals Paris Saint-Germain in twenty fifth place.
Meaning qualification for at the very least the play-off spherical in February is sort of assured, whereas ending among the many prime eight would see them advance on to the final 16.
Brest play Ukrainian membership Shakhtar Donetsk in Germany on January 22 after which wrap up the league section with a glamour tie towards Actual Madrid in Guingamp every week later.
Unable to host Champions League matches at their very own Stade Francis-Le Ble as a result of it doesn’t meet UEFA necessities, Brest have thus far performed matches simply over 100 kilometres away on the residence of Brittany rivals Guingamp.
There, at a stadium with a capability of simply over 18,000, Brest have overwhelmed each Sturm Graz and PSV Eindhoven, whereas additionally holding German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
However additional modifications have to be made in Guingamp to ensure that the bottom to host Champions League matches, which had led Brest to contemplate transferring to the 80,000-capacity Stade de France, 600 kilometres away simply outdoors Paris.
“The thought, for a time, was to go to the Stade de France to be able to fulfill the largest variety of followers but additionally to develop the membership by rising its visibility, each at a nationwide stage and internationally,” stated Le Saint in a press release.
“However such a transfer could be problematic for everybody, together with the membership’s most trustworthy supporters.”
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