Real Madrid narrowly missed out on a top-eight finish, falling just one point short of direct qualification to the Champions League last 16. As a result, they now enter Friday’s draw for the extra play-off round, where they are set to face either Manchester City or Celtic in a decisive two-legged tie in February. The winners will advance to the knockout stage in March.
Bellingham Reflects on the Group Stage
Reflecting on their campaign, Jude Bellingham admitted to UEFA.com that the team could have performed better in certain matches, which ultimately led them to this challenging route.
“It was crucial to finish strong with a win. There were games where we didn’t quite meet our standards, and that’s why we’ve ended up in the play-offs,” he acknowledged. “No worries, though. We’ll take on whatever challenges come our way with the right mindset. You can see we’re really starting to click as a team.”
Madrid’s Winning Streak and Key Performers
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad appears to have found their rhythm, stringing together five consecutive victories in all competitions since their humbling 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 12.
Rodrygo’s Influence
- Opened the scoring against Brest with a low strike across goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
- Almost scored earlier, but his powerful header was spectacularly denied.
- Sealed the win with his second goal of the night in the 78th minute.
Mbappé’s Hot Streak Halted
Real Madrid played without the suspended Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappé—who had netted eight times in his previous five matches—was unable to find the target this time. However, that didn’t deter the team from securing a commanding 3-0 victory.
Brest’s Response:
- Ludovic Ajorque thought he had equalized early in the second half, but VAR ruled him narrowly offside.
- Madrid swiftly doubled their lead in the 56th minute when Bellingham orchestrated a counterattack, converting Lucas Vázquez’s precise low cross.
Bellingham on Madrid’s Team Mentality
“It doesn’t matter who scores. One game, it might be Rodrygo twice and me once, another time it could be Kylian getting three,” he said. “What matters is that someone always steps up with a moment of magic, while the rest of us ensure the team remains well-structured. That organization was missing in some early group matches, but we’ve been improving in recent weeks.”
Madrid Thrives in the New Champions League Format
Despite suffering group-stage defeats to Lille, AC Milan, and Liverpool, Madrid successfully progressed under the revamped Champions League format. Bellingham praised the new system, appreciating the increased competition.
“It’s been great playing against a diverse mix of high-quality teams from all over Europe. There’s definitely an added sense of jeopardy, which makes it more exciting.”
Brest’s Historic European Run
Brest, enjoying their first-ever European campaign, have also made it to the play-off round. Remarkably, they finished 18th in the standings—above heavyweights like Juventus and Manchester City—despite losing their last two games.
“We’ve already made history, and we’re hungry for more,” Bizot said. “If we keep pushing and getting results, who knows how far we can go?”
Now, they prepare for a clash with either Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica in the next round, hoping to continue their fairy-tale run in Europe.
