Brest set to play Champions League games at Guingamp’s Stade du Roudourou | OneFootball

Brest have completed the greatest feat in their history in qualifying for the new 36-team Champions League next season by finishing third in the Ligue 1 standings. Brest have Nice to thank with the INEOS-owned outfit clinching a last-minute equalizer against Paulo Fonseca’s Lille, which have to settle for fourth. Les Pirates have done their part of the job in inflicting Toulouse a 3-0 home humbling.

Unfortunately for Brest, there won’t be any midweek games against the European elite at their historic Stade Francis Le Blé home. The stadium falls way short of UEFA’s requirements when it comes to design, accommodation and safety. UEFA would have only allowed letting in 5.000 fans, which has been deemed unacceptable by Brest. The club resorted to beginning discussions with their local rivals in Brittany in their quest for a new home.

Speaking to Le Télégramme after Brest’s 3-0 win at Toulouse on Sunday, the town mayor Francis Cuillandre announced that, barring any unexpected change of heart, Ligue 2 side Guingamp are set to lend their 18.000-seater Stade du Roudourou to their Brest rivals. “The European Cup is set to be played there”, Cuillandre said. “I had the Guingamp mayor on the phone. Normally, that will be it.” Stade du Roudourou has the advantage of being closer to Brest than Rennes’ Roazhon Park, which would facilitate travel arrangements for both the club and its supporters.

Lille set to play their UCL third qualifying round away from home

Brest are not the only club that have been forced to find a new home. In falling to fourth place at the last minute, Lille will have to play two rounds of qualifying to reach the 36-team Champions League. The first two-legged tie is due to be held at the start of August. However, Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy won’t host Les Dogues as it will be used to hold the Olympic handball tournament knock-out stage during the Paris Summer Games.

Lille president Olivier Létang has hinted to Le Parisien that Valenciennes’ Stade du Hainaut is set to host Lille’s home Champions League third qualifying round.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval