PSG beats Brest 3-0 in Champions League ahead of Man City and Real Madrid clash

By Canadian Press on February 11, 2025.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain took a big step toward the Champions League round of 16 by beating Brest 3-0 in a first-leg playoff match Tuesday.

Ousmane Dembélé scored twice and Vitinha converted a penalty to put the French champion in control.

Having made hard work of the new-look league phase of the tournament, it would take a major upset in the second leg in Paris to deny PSG a place in the next round.

The Qatar-backed PSG is one of the wealthiest clubs in the world, but was in danger of early elimination before securing the lifeline of a playoff by finishing 15th in the 36-team league.

It wasn’t the only European giant to have to face a playoff to advance.

Defending champion Real Madrid and 2023 champion Manchester City were going head-to-head in the biggest clash of the playoffs, with the first leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

This is the fourth year in a row they have faced each other in the Champions League, with the winner on the three previous occasions going on to lift the trophy.

City heads into the first leg in the middle of a disappointing campaign that has seen their Premier League title defense unravel. But Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti still believes his team will have to overcome one of the best in the world to advance to the round of 16.

“They are one of the best teams in Europe and they have the best manager (Pep Guardiola) out there. It’s a nightmare preparing for games against him because he always has ideas that make you think,” Ancelotti said. “I am convinced the team that goes through from this tie will go on to win the competition.”

Guardiola said he did not know what to expect from his team after a troubled season has left it in fifth place in the Premier League, 15 points behind leader Liverpool.

“We’ve not been consistent, when what’s defined the team over the last decade has been we are an incredible machine every three days, otherwise we cannot win six Premier Leagues in seven years or win the incredible trophies we have won,” he said. “Then I would feel, yes, the team is consistent, we can do it. Now it’s like, I don’t know.”

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

James Robson, The Associated Press