Holders Real Madrid Secure Playoff Spot with 3-0 Win Over Stade Brest
Defending champions Real Madrid ensured they would be seeded for Friday’s Champions League playoff draw by defeating Stade Brest 3-0 in their final group-stage match on Wednesday. With the victory, Los Blancos finished the league phase with a solid performance, extending their winning streak to five matches in all competitions and securing their 28th consecutive qualification for the knockout phase of the Champions League.
Rodrygo opened the scoring with a 26th-minute strike, while Jude Bellingham added a second in the 56th. Rodrygo then sealed the win with a second goal in the 78th minute, rounding off a comfortable victory. Despite the loss, Stade Brest, in their first-ever European campaign, will also progress to the two-legged playoffs as an unseeded team.
The game started with Real Madrid slowly finding their rhythm. Despite a sluggish opening, they managed to break the deadlock in the 26th minute. Rodrygo displayed excellent dribbling skills, weaving his way through Brest’s defense before firing a low shot that hit the post and found the back of the net.
Brest had a goal ruled out for offside in the 51st minute, as Ludovic Ajorque’s effort was disallowed after a VAR check. Real Madrid capitalized on the disallowed goal just minutes later when Bellingham doubled their lead. The Englishman finished a brilliant counter-attack, tapping home from close range after a precise pass from Lucas Vazquez.
Rodrygo completed his brace in the 78th minute, volleying home after a fine save from Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot denied a Kylian Mbappe shot. The Brazilian winger’s second goal ensured that Madrid would finish the group phase in style.
Despite the result, Brest head coach Pierre Lees-Melou expressed pride in his team’s performance, acknowledging the difference in experience between his side and the defending champions. Brest will now prepare for the two-legged playoff round as they look to continue their European adventure.
With the win, Real Madrid finished 11th in the standings with 15 points from eight games, narrowly missing out on a top-eight finish. They will now await their playoff opponent in Friday’s draw, with potential matchups including Manchester City or Celtic.
Stade Brest, who finished in 18th place with 13 points, will also be part of the knockout stage, though they will enter as an unseeded team. They will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica in the two-legged playoff round. Brest midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that facing Paris Saint-Germain would be a daunting task: “It would be a shame to be drawn against Paris,” he said.
Top Teams Secure Knockout Places

As the group stage concluded, other top teams also confirmed their places in the knockout rounds. Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid secured top-eight finishes, while Liverpool and Barcelona advanced directly to the last 16 with impressive performances.
Bayern Munich, despite a 3-1 win against Slovan Bratislava, finished in 10th place, just one spot ahead of Real Madrid, while Paris Saint-Germain, who secured a 4-1 win at Stuttgart, finished in 15th. PSG’s win over Manchester City the previous week helped them advance to the playoffs, where they will face either Monaco or Brest.