Brest vs Real Madrid facts

Brest's final league phase fixture in the UEFA Champions League brings holders Real Madrid to France on Matchday 8.

There is a single point between the sides, who both confirmed their places in the knockout phase on Matchday 7. Brest have 13 despite losing 2-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk in their last fixture, just their second European defeat; Madrid are on 12 and were 5-1 winners at home to Salzburg last time out.

This is the teams' first meeting – although Brest's first European campaign has already pitted them against Spanish opponents and Madrid have already lost in France this season.

Form guide

Brest

Record vs Spanish clubs: W0 D0 L1 F0 A3

Brest's 3-0 Matchday 5 loss at Barcelona, their first European defeat, is their only previous fixture against a Spanish club.

This is Brest's first season in the Champions League; indeed, they have never before qualified for European competition.

Leipzig, in 2017, are the only previous club to have made their European debut in the Champions League proper, an honour Brest have shared with Girona this season.

Éric Roy's side secured their place in the competition by finishing third in Ligue 1 in 2023/24 – the club's highest-ever final position. Their 61 points was also a club record.

Les Pirates are the 12th French club to play in the Champions League proper, and the first newcomers since Rennes in 2020/21.

Brest are one of five clubs to be making their Champions League debuts in 2024/25, along with Bologna, Aston Villa, Girona and Slovan Bratislava.

The French side were 2-1 winners at home to Sturm Graz on Matchday 1 before a 1-1 draw against German champions Bayer Leverkusen and, on Matchday 6, a 1-0 defeat of PSV Eindhoven.

Real Madrid

Record vs French clubs: W20 D7 L10 F70 A45
Away record vs French clubs: W6 D3 L9

Madrid's 1-0 loss at LOSC Lille on Matchday 2 was their third in their last five games against Ligue 1 clubs (W1 D1).

They had previously faced French opposition in the 2021/22 round of 16, recovering from a 0-1 loss at Paris Saint-Germain and falling behind in the return – Kylian Mbappé scoring both goals – to win 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu with a Karim Benzema hat-trick in the final half-hour.

The loss at Lille is one of only three in Madrid's last 16 matches against French opposition (W9 D4). They have, however, lost their last three games in France and won only four of the last 13, losing seven.

Madrid claimed their record-extending 15th European Cup in 2023/24 with a 2-0 final victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

Carlo Ancelotti's side had finished top of their section after winning all six group games for a record-equalling third time. Leipzig were overcome in the round of 16 (1-0 a, 1-1 a) before epic ties against holders Manchester City (3-3 h, 1-1 a, 4-3 pens) and Bayern München (2-2 a, 2-1 h).

Madrid are in the Champions League proper for the 29th time in 2024/25, a competition record they share with Barcelona. They last missed out in 1996/97 and have qualified for the knockout rounds in all 28 campaigns.

The Spanish side have lost ten of their last 32 Champions League away games, winning 12, including 3-2 at Atalanta in the most recent on Matchday 6. They have been beaten in six of the last 18, losing at Lille (0-1) and Liverpool (0-2) this season.

The Merengues claimed their second La Liga championship in three years and 36th overall in 2023/24.

Links and trivia

Have played together:
Romain del Castillo & Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes 2018–21)
Jonas Martin & Dani Ceballos (Real Betis 2016/17)

Have played in Spain:
Jordan Amavi (Getafe 2022/23)
Jonas Martin (Real Betis 2016/17)

Have played in France:
Kylian Mbappé (Monaco 2013–17, Paris Saint-Germain 2017–24)
Ferland Mendy (Le Havre 2013–17, Lyon 2017–19)
Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes 2013–21)
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Bordeaux 2011–20, Monaco 2020–22)

International team-mates:
Ibrahim Salah & Brahim Diaz (Morocco)

Latest news

Brest

Ludovic Ajorque's first-half goal gave Brest a 1-0 victory at Le Havre on Sunday, making it seven wins in their last nine games in all competitions (L2).

It was also their third successive Ligue 1 win for the first time since February-March 2024.

Indeed, a 2-1 victory at Rennes on 18 January made it successive league victories for the first time this season.

Ajorque has five goals in his last seven league appearances and is Brest's top scorer in Ligue 1 on seven, but has yet to find the net in the Champions League.

On 15 January Brest were 2-1 victors against Nantes in the French Cup round of 32. They will visit Ligue 2 Troyes in the last 16.

Brest's record in Ligue 1 this season is W9 D1 L9. They were 2-1 winners against Lyon on 11 January having suffered a 2-0 defeat at Angers six days earlier.

Soumaïla Coulibaly came on at Shakhtar having been out with a pelvic injury since 21 November, and started on Sunday.

Mama Baldé came on just past the hour at Le Havre but limped off late on with a leg injury.

Left-back Massadio Haïdara (calf) and his replacement Jordan Amavi (thigh) both went off injured against Lyon and have not played since.

Julien Le Cardinal has not played since going off with a hamstring injury on Matchday 6.

A muscle injury has sidelined Jonas Martin since 29 November.

Real Madrid

Madrid made it four successive victories, with 17 goals scored, with a 3-0 success at Valladolid on Saturday thanks to a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick.

Mbappé has scored in his last five games, eight goals in total, and is Madrid's top scorer this season with 22.

On 19 January Madrid came from behind to win 4-1 at home to Las Palmas and go top of La Liga, Mbappé finding the net twice.

Madrid reached the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a 5-2 extra-time win at home to Celta Vigo on 16 January, a game in which they led 2-0 until the 83rd minute. The decisive goals all came in the second half of extra time, from Endrick (2) and Federico Valverde.

Real Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final on 12 January, going down 5-2 to Barcelona. Three days earlier, they had beaten Mallorca 3-0 in the semi-finals.

The loss to Barcelona is Madrid's only defeat in their last 13 games (W11 D1), scoring 45 goals in that run.

Rodrygo scored in both the semi-final and final of the Spanish Super Cup and has eight goals in his last ten games including three in the last three.

Jude Bellingham did not score in his first 12 Madrid appearances this season but, since opening his account on 9 November in a 4-0 win against Osasuna, has nine in his last 17.

David Alaba has come on in the last three fixtures, his first appearances since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December 2023.

Eduardo Camavinga has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury.

Éder Militão suffered a fractured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Osasuna on 9 November and will not play again this season.

Dani Carvajal suffered a serious knee injury in the match against Villarreal on 5 October and is also expected to be out for the whole season.