Paris Saint-Germain has "sent a message to Europe" with their 7-0 victory over Stade Brest, according to the French media. However, Brest manager Éric Roy’s lineup played into the hands of the Parisians, as noted in reports: "Without saying it outright, he admitted that he didn’t believe in it," wrote the Breton newspaper Ouest France.
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"It’s right up my alley," said Roy before the Champions League match, referring to a famous comeback from 1998 in which he himself was on the field. Now, as a manager, he faced a similar challenge: Brest had to overturn a three-goal deficit over two legs against PSG.
However, following this statement, his starting lineup raised eyebrows among the French media. Despite the difficult task ahead, Roy opted to leave key players such as Marco Bizot and top scorer Ludovic Ajorque on the bench, a decision that puzzled many. For a team that had already entered the second leg as heavy underdogs, resting key figures seemed to be an unnecessary risk, and as it turned out, Brest never even got a foothold in the game.
Brest fans, who traveled in hopes of witnessing an unlikely miracle at the Parc des Princes, were instead met with what quickly became a nightmare. From the first whistle, PSG took control of the match, dominating possession and pressing high, leaving Brest unable to build from the back. The decision to start goalkeeper Grégoire Coudert and 19-year-old right-back Luck Zogbé only added to Brest’s struggles, as both players were thrown into the deep end against a relentless PSG attack. Within minutes, it became clear that Brest’s defensive line was overwhelmed, with every PSG attack looking like it could result in a goal.
L'Équipe described the French coach as "mysterious and a big joker." "In addition to benching his key players in the central axis (Mahdi Camara and Hugo Magnetti), Roy handed Champions League debuts to goalkeeper Grégoire Coudert (25) and right-back Luck Zogbé (19). The result: the entire team went up in flames in a crushing 7-0 defeat against PSG." The Parisian club wasted no time in putting the tie to rest, scoring early and often, turning the match into what felt like a training exercise rather than a high-stakes Champions League knockout game. Brest barely managed to string together a coherent attack, and when they did, PSG’s defensive line effortlessly neutralized any danger before it materialized.
Roy himself had no regrets about his choices, as reported by Le Parisien: "Coaches have certain beliefs. I thought we could achieve a good result with this team. We had some last-minute setbacks. Ajorque was struggling with back pain. Those who played gave everything, but it wasn’t enough to defeat this great PSG team." While Roy’s defense of his decisions was expected, few in the media or among the fans were convinced. Brest had already been facing an uphill battle, and by fielding a weakened squad, Roy all but conceded defeat before the game had even started.
Brest midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou spoke to RMC with deep disappointment: "We are even a little ashamed. 7-0 is just too much. PSG is a great team, I don’t blame them. In fact, I hope they win the Champions League, but this felt almost like a professional thrashing." His words echoed the sentiments of many in the squad, who had no choice but to acknowledge the massive gulf in class between the two sides. While PSG is a European powerhouse with ambitions of finally securing their first Champions League title, Brest was simply trying to stay competitive in the tie, a task that proved impossible once they fell behind.
Records Broken
Bizot’s replacement immediately found himself on the wrong side of history: Coudert is now the goalkeeper who has conceded the most goals in a single match for a French club in Champions League history. It was a brutal initiation for the 25-year-old, who was left exposed time and time again as PSG carved through Brest’s defense with ease. Every PSG attack seemed to result in either a goal or a clear-cut opportunity, leaving Coudert helpless as the ball repeatedly hit the back of the net.
PSG also set a record of their own: for the first time ever, seven different players from the same team scored in a single Champions League match. The attacking display was a testament to the depth and fluidity of Luis Enrique’s squad, with goals coming from across the pitch. "It’s simple: we pass the ball to the player in the best position to score," said Vitinha, who also found the net, in an interview with L'Équipe. It was a statement that summed up PSG’s performance, as their movement and unselfish play made it impossible for Brest to keep up.
PSG manager Luis Enrique emphasized that the 7-0 scoreline reflected how seriously his team took their opponent on Wednesday night: "We could have fallen into a sense of relaxation because of our 3-0 lead from the first leg, but that didn’t happen. Brest lost hope when we scored the first goal. The second half was easier; we were very precise and showed respect for one of the best teams in France." His words carried weight, as PSG showed a level of ruthlessness that had sometimes been missing in previous seasons. Rather than easing off, they continued to push forward, determined to make a statement.
The 10-0 aggregate scoreline across both legs is the second-largest margin of victory in Champions League knockout history. Only Sporting Portugal suffered a worse fate when they were thrashed by Bayern Munich in 2009, losing the first leg 5-0 before being crushed 7-1 in Germany. While Brest may not have been expected to win, the sheer scale of the defeat left many wondering whether this was one of the most one-sided matchups in the competition’s modern history.
With this dominant performance, PSG sends a strong message to both France and Europe, said former Brest and PSG player Tripy Makonda to RMC. The Parisians had often been accused of underperforming in key Champions League matches, but this performance was a reminder of just how dangerous they can be when they are at their best. The real test, however, will come in the later rounds, where PSG will have to prove that they can replicate this kind of form against Europe’s elite.
For Brest, the focus will now shift back to domestic football, where they must recover quickly from this humiliation. Their Champions League journey may have ended in disaster, but ensuring a strong finish in Ligue 1 will be crucial to securing another shot at European football next season. For now, though, this heavy defeat will linger in the minds of both players and fans, serving as a harsh lesson in the unforgiving nature of top-level football.
Updated: 02:26, 20 Feb 2025
