Real Madrid knew they had to win at the Stade du Roudourou, and they passed the test with flying colours against Brest. Our boys delivered a disciplined display from the first minute, and headed into the half-time break one goal to the good following Rodrygo's beautiful solo effort. Ancelotti's charges went on to make sure of the result in the second half with goals for Bellingham and Rodrygo, who completed his latest madridista brace. Next up will be Manchester City or Celtic in the playoff for a round of 16 place.
Brest flew out the blocks looking to spring a surprise early on, after kick-off had been delayed by five minutes due to the smoke from the home fans' flares obscuring visibility. A long-range free-kick by Pereira Lage tested Courtois with just six minutes on the clock, before our team responded ten minutes later. Mbappé pick the ball up on the edge of the box and eluded Chardonnet, but his show flew over the bar. That was a warning shot by Ancelotti's boys, who enjoyed their clearest chance yet on 27’, when Lucas Vázquez's cross was headed towards goal by Rodrygo only to be pushed behind for a corner by Bizot.


It was that very corner that would give rise to Madrid's opener - and it was a beauty. Rodrygo left Chardonnet chasing shadows with a gorgeous piece of skill to break into the area, before curling home a delightful left-footed effort. Real Madrid were dominant from that point until the break, though Brest did come close with Balde's volley that was too high on 37 minutes, and a long ball by Magnetti, which took a deflection and almost caught Courtois out on 42’. As the teams emerged from the second half, the visitors almost made it 0-2. Mbappé's dazzling stepover left Lala reeling, but Bizot's superb diving stop kept out the Frenchman's strike.

Strong second half
Ajorque did have the ball in the back of the net with 51 minutes played, but the goal was ruled out for an offside against the forward following a VAR review. From what looked like 1-1, the score was 0-2 just five minutes later. A swift attacking transition was led by Mbappé, who left the ball to Bellingham, who fed Lucas Vázquez, and the winger laid it back to the English midfielder to prod home with ease. Brest looked to hit back with some slick link-up between Ajorque and Lala, but Courtois produced a spectacular save to protect the lead on 63’.

Rodrygo at the double
Brest continued to press forward in search of the comeback, but Ancelotti's boys made sure of the points when they struck a third. With 78 minutes played, Mbappé's strike with the outside of his right boot was kept out by the hosts' goalkeeper, but Rodrygo was on hand to pounce and turn home the rebound. It could have been 0-4 with 88 minutes gone, but Mbappé fired over when one-on-one, before Valverde's volley from the edge of the box whistled centimetres wide in injury time. Madrid came close to a spot in the top eight, but an eleventh-place finish means they'll now face Manchester City or Celtic in the round of 16 playoff.