Real Madrid through to knockouts with comfortable Brest win
- Published By The Statesman For The Statesman Digital
- 10 hours ago
Real Madrid must go through the Champions League play-offs and a tie against either Manchester City or Celtic after failing to finish in the top eight despite comfortably beating Brest.
A Rodrygo double and Jude Bellingham's strike secured a win for the reigning champions, who needed a win in France to stand a chance of an automatic place in the round of 16.
But results elsewhere mean Carlo Ancelotti's side must play an extra two-legged tie if they are to defend their title.
Brest also go into the knock-out play-offs in their debut Champions League campaign.
After a slow start, Madrid assumed control in Guingamp and deservedly took the lead after 27 minutes through a fine goal from Rodrygo.
The Brazilian, who now has 10 goals in as many matches, cut inside a defender on his right foot, before shimmying back onto his left and striking a low effort in off the far post.
Madrid suffered a mighty scare as Ludovic Ajorque squeezed home a shot deflected off Aurelin Tchouameni, only to be determined narrowly offside following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
Instead, Bellingham made it 2-0 after 57 minutes when he finished from Lucas Vazquez's cutback, and Rodrygo added a third by turning in the rebound from a Marco Bizot save.
Victories for Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa meant it was mathematically impossible for Madrid to reach the top eight no matter their result.
Instead the European champions finish 11th, and will face one of Manchester City or Celtic in the play-offs with the draw to be made on Friday.
Brest come 18th, and will face Benfica or Ligue 1 rivals Paris St-Germain in the next round.
Madrid have been in fine form of late, and have now won their last five games while scoring 20 goals in the process.
But their slow start to this Champions League campaign, in which they lost three of their first six matches, has ultimately cost them automatic progress to the round of 16.
Their vaunted attack in particular has found their touch too late - Rodrygo is now scoring at will, but only after going two and a half months without a goal.
Similarly Mbappe now seems to have adapted to his Real role as a central number nine, but the teething problems that were so evident earlier this campaign - such as the damaging loss at Liverpool - have still cost Madrid in the end.
It means Madrid must now go through an extra two play-off games in order to defend the title they regard as their birthright. While they will be well fancied to reach the last 16 and go further, it will be a sore point for Europe's most successful side that they have to take this road at all.
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