Brest is next in line as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain tries to stay unbeaten in the French league. PSG leads by 10 points with 15 games to go and remains on course for a yet another Ligue 1 and French Cup double.

Paris Saint-Germain completed an impressive turnaround in form to reach the UEFA Champions League playoffs on Wednesday with a 4-1 win away at VfB Stuttgart securing a top-24 berth when all had seemed lost with three games to go.

European champions Read Madrid are very close to hitting their best form, manager Carlo Ancelotti said ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash at French side Brest.Real are 16th in the Champions League standings on 12 points after four wins and three losses from seven games,

Ligue 1 has trolled Cristiano Ronaldo, on the back of his recent comments about the division, after seeing four clubs enjoy Champions League progress.

When Lille lost its opening Champions League match in September, only a few bold gamblers would have bet on the Ligue 1 side to qualify for the last 16 of European club soccer's elite tournament. But the northern France side defied all the odds and concluded the league phase campaign of the competition with a 6-1 thrashing of Feyenoord on Wednesday.

As Real Madrid gear up to face Brest in the UEFA Champions League, much of the attention will undoubtedly be on star forward Kylian Mbappe. His presence on the pitch is a concern for Brest fans, and

Brest's incredible rise to the Champions League, the Boniface/Duran transfer saga, and the very rare Lasso trading

Real Madrid's 3–0 victory against Brest sent Carlo Ancelotti's side through to the Champions League knockout stage.

But the northern France side defied all the odds and concluded the league phase campaign of the competition with a 6-1 thrashing of Feyenoord on Wednesday. It was the first time Lille scored more than three goals in the Champions League.

Now safely in the Champions League playoff spots, Real Madrid look to secure an improved standing in the bracket as they wrap up the league phase with a trip to French side Brest.

But for every top team underperforming, there's an underdog seizing their moment and taking their place. And during this phase, Aston Villa, Lille, Brest, Celtic and Club Brugge certainly rose to the occasion as they all secured unexpected placings in the next round.