Brest, the unexpected contender in the newly format Champions League, has announced that it will not relocate its home games to the Stade de France, despite an overwhelming demand from its supporters.
The club, hailing from Brittany and operating with one of the smallest budgets in the French league, has remarkably made its presence felt in European competition, marking its debut in such events.
With two group stage matches remaining—including a highly anticipated home encounter against the renowned Real Madrid on January 29—Brest is currently in a commendable seventh place among the 36 competing teams. The club shares an identical points tally with five other teams, one of which includes third-place Arsenal.
This achievement is particularly impressive given that Brest’s home ground, with a capacity of 15,000, does not fulfill the UEFA regulations. Therefore, the squad has been hosting its European fixtures at the Stade de Roudourou in Guingamp, which is situated about 114 kilometers (70 miles) away from Brest.
With the possibility of advancing to the knockout stage on the horizon, Brest contemplated using a larger venue for future matches by reaching out to the Stade de France, a stadium that accommodates over 80,000 fans.
However, this week, the club confirmed its decision to continue playing at Roudourou, which can host approximately 18,400 spectators.
Brest addressed the situation, stating, “Given the strong interest for the Real Madrid match scheduled for the end of January, we initially considered moving to the Stade de France to accommodate as many Red and Whites fans as possible and to elevate the club’s national and international standing in a fitting arena. Nevertheless, this move seems to impose limitations for everyone involved, particularly our most loyal supporters. Thus, we will persist in our endeavors in Brittany, where the spirit of Brest lives on.”
Brest clinched the last automatic Champions League spot allocated to French teams by finishing in third place in Ligue 1 during the previous season.
