Highly anticipated, the final day of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season lived up to all expectations.
And among the main highlights, it was hard to overlook the heavy defeat suffered by Stade Brestois on the pitch at OGC Nice. A 6-0 loss, the final chapter in a historic season for the Bretons, simultaneously securing Franck Haise’s men a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
The Aiglons, who finished fourth in the league, have been rewarded, but the history of French clubs in this competition suggests that this could be a trap. Since 1997-98, when they qualified for the Champions League for the first time, things have not always gone as planned for France’s representatives.
It has been particularly difficult since the 2013-14 season, when they began having to go through two rounds (instead of only one previously) to reach the final phase of the tournament. In nine attempts, only two clubs have managed to qualify for the Champions League group stage: AS Monaco in 2016 and Lille last year. In other words, a 22% success rate.
A far less impressive record than that achieved over the previous 16 years, which saw 12 teams, including PSG, Auxerre and Olympique de Marseille, reach the group stage.
For the Niçois, who will have to defeat Benfica before potentially facing Feyenoord or Fenerbahçe, the task ahead looks difficult. Especially considering that the last time the Côte d’Azur club reached the final stages of the Champions League was back in 1960.
Since then, Nice has participated in several European competitions, notably in the Europa League, but has never performed to the level expected of them. This includes disappointments such as their performance last season (they finished 35th out of 36 in the Europa League group stage).
A modest historical record, which Haise, the club’s French coach, is not concerned about when looking to the future.
“What I want is for us to perform. If it’s in the Champions League – which is what we all want – we know it will be very, very tough, but our goal will be to show that we are up to the task,” he told L’Équipe a few days ago.
“And if it’s the Europa League, we’ll say to ourselves: last year, we didn’t measure up, whatever the reasons, and we want to show a different side of ourselves.”
An opportunity that they will very soon have the chance to seize.
