Rodrygo struck twice as Champions League holders Real Madrid swept Brest aside 3-0 to book their place in the play-off stages.
Results elsewhere removed any hope Carlo Ancelotti’s men had qualifying automatically with a top-eight finish, but they took care of their own business with a clinical showing against spirited opponents.
Brazilian international Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a piece of outstanding solo skill and was in the right place at the right time to round out the scoring in the closing stages. In between Jude Bellingham tapped home from close-range, shortly after Brest’s hopes of an equaliser were dashed by the assistant referee’s flag.
🏁 @SB29 0-3 @RealMadridEn⚽ 27′ @RodrygoGoes⚽ 56′ @BellinghamJude⚽ 78′ @RodrygoGoes pic.twitter.com/9xrbwebpYW
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 29, 2025
The game was delayed for five minutes as smoke from the pre-match pyrotechnics took its time to clear, a break that only served to crank up the atmosphere inside Municipal du Roudourou.
The wave of support from the home fans grew even louder when an early free-kick saw Mathias Pereira Lage draw a sharp save from Thibaut Courtois.
For the most part, though, it was Real making the running. The on-form Kylian Mbappe curled wide from his first sight of goal and found himself well closed down after Bellingham’s brilliant crossfield pass looked like unlocking the defence.
Mbappe continued to find space, gathering a deft chip from Luka Modric before cutting inside and clearing the crossbar from 12 yards.
Brest survived again when Marco Bizot stood firm to beat away Rodrygo’s powerful header in the 26th minute, Lucas Vazquez having stood up a pinpoint cross, but the resistance was about to break.
Collecting the ball just outside the box Rodrygo drove forward and skipped past Brendan Chardonnet before unleashing a clinical left-foot effort that beat Bizot, striking the inside of the far post on its way in.
Brest did not fold after going behind, creating chances of their own leading up to half-time. Kamory Doumbia did not quite muster enough power to test Courtois after slipping clear and Mama Balde lashed a volley just over from a half-cleared corner.
Real squandered a glorious opportunity for 2-0, Mbappe hitting straight at the keeper after Modric’s glorious pass and Bellingham hesitating over what could have been a straightforward finish.
They almost paid the price when Ludovic Ajorque stabbed a low shot over the line after good recovery work from Doumbia but, after wild celebrations exploded on the touchline, an offside verdict spoiled the party.
With a couple of minutes Real ladled salt into the wounds, Brahim Diaz and Vazquez combining to lay a close-range finish on a plate for Bellingham. The England international made no mistake.
Brest came close again when Kenny Lala prodded towards the top corner only for Courtois to pull off an excellent reaction save, ensuring a first clean sheet in this year’s competition.
Eric Roy’s side deserved something from the game but instead fell further behind as Mbappe’s explosive pace once again caught them out. He spun away in the left channel before firing a shot that Bizot could only push back towards Rodrygo, who nonchalantly finished on the volley.
