Barça may not always be in top form, but when they roll up their sleeves, they become a formidable team that can dismantle opponents with three swift strikes. With more control than brilliance, they defeated Brest to climb to the top spots in a Champions League where they navigate confidently, rarely encountering obstacles.
Brest was not as fierce as anticipated, or perhaps Barça took to heart the message of doubt. The French team appeared lackluster, a far cry from their European performances in Ligue 1. Despite their towering forward Ajorque's attempt to intimidate and mark territory against Cubarsí in the opening minutes, Brest struggled to even enter Barça's penalty area.
Barça was determined to shake off the doubts from their previous matches in Vigo and San Sebastián, and before they knew it, they were already leading on the scoreboard. A pass from Pedri into the heart of the box was chested down by Lewandowski, who was brought down by the goalkeeper Bizot. The Bosnian referee pointed to the penalty spot, and the Polish striker scored his 100th goal in the Champions League, joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (141) and Messi (129). Lewandowski's resurgence under Hansi Flick has made him a reliable weapon, akin to a superhero who always shows up when needed the most.
The French team had been rattled, and Barça adjusted to the German coach's tactics. They regained their high press, at times suffocating, with Pedri orchestrating the play, seeking the flair of Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Fermín. Barça dominated possession, forcing Brest to defend diligently to prevent the gaps exploited by Raphinha. First, threading the ball between the center-backs to set up Fermín for a one-on-one chance, then delivering a cross to the penalty spot that the Andalusian striker slotted past the goalkeeper's side netting.
Barça controlled the game but struggled to break through. Long attacks aimed at Gerard Martín, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha, though promising, failed to increase the lead significantly. Even the second-best chance of the match, a header by Fermín saved by Bizot's feet, did not widen the margin that reflected their dominance. At halftime, Barça knew they had to be sharper to avoid living on the edge of a narrow lead, but Brest woke up before that.
Forced to step up, the French team matched Barça's pressure, seeking turnovers and quick runs towards Iñaki Peña. Sima made an appearance, Eric Roy shuffled the lineup, introducing Baldé to exploit the space behind Gerard Martín, but nothing worked. Meanwhile, Dani Olmo sought to break free from mediocrity. He headed a cross from Koundé, saved off the line by captain Chardonnet, and just before being substituted by Flick, he latched onto Gerard Martín's low cross, evading the French defender with a touch, a dribble, and beating the goalkeeper. Olmo aimed to regain his explosiveness from his early days at Barça, proving himself alongside Pedri before the return of Gavi and De Jong, who faced criticism in their last match.
With the three points within reach, Flick rotated his bench to maintain control. Brest, the surprise package in this Champions League, failed to respond. They even risked conceding another goal from a defensive error, with Pablo Torre shooting wide after stealing the ball in the midfield. It seemed like Barça lacked the spark to score more against Brest, but then Robert Lewandowski stepped up to secure the third goal, enhancing his stature and continuing his successful journey in Europe.