Ligue 1: Nice Thrash Brest 6-0 to Secure Champions League Qualification

Nice secures a spot in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round with a 6-0 thrashing of Brest on the final day of the Ligue 1 season.

OGC Nice secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round with a stunning 6-0 thrashing of Brest on the final day of the Ligue 1 season. The victory marked a confident performance by Nice, who showed no signs of pressure despite the high stakes.

Nice took control early, storming into a two-goal lead within the first 20 minutes. The home side's intent was evident even before that, with Gaetan Laborde hitting the woodwork shortly beforehand, setting the tone for a dominant display.

What a special end to the season!

Le Gym finish @Ligue1_ENG in fourth place and will have the chance to dream of @ChampionsLeague football 🙌

Thank you Niçois! ❤ pic.twitter.com/U45t9KVLoe

— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) May 17, 2025

Evann Guessand opened the scoring for Nice, skillfully evading a sliding challenge and then beating another defender to fire a low shot past Marco Bizot. This marked his 12th league goal of the season.

Guessand quickly transitioned from scorer to provider, expertly guiding Melvin Bard's cross back across goal for Gaetan Laborde to slot home, doubling Nice's lead.

Brest's struggles continued when Bradley Locko's clumsy challenge on Badredine Bouanani resulted in a penalty. The young midfielder swiftly got back to his feet and confidently scored the penalty, drilling the ball into the opposite corner beyond Bizot's dive.

This penalty, scored before the 30-minute mark, all but sealed Nice's Champions League qualification, giving them a significant advantage early in the match.

Badredine Bouanani threatened to double his tally and Nice's lead early in the second half, with Brest still reeling defensively. He forced Marco Bizot into an exceptional save with his left hand, and moments later, Bouanani's shot flew just wide of the post.

Franck Haise's tactical changes continued to expose Brest's defense, and it was no surprise when Nice added a fourth and then a fifth goal, further emphasizing their dominance on the pitch.

Gaetan Laborde showcased his technical quality with a stunning volley from Melvin Bard's cross, securing his second goal of the match. Soon after, Terem Moffi scored his first goal since recovering from a serious knee injury, rounding the goalkeeper to add to Nice's tally.

The European spots for 2025/26 are locked in! ✨

🔵 PSG
🔵 Marseille
🔵 Monaco
🔵 Nice
🟠 Lille
🟢 Lyon pic.twitter.com/7xdTNOPjUh

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 17, 2025

Ali Abdi sealed the win with a tap-in during stoppage time, capping off Nice's dominant performance. The victory marked Nice's return to Champions League qualifying for the first time since the 2017-18 season, while Brest finished ninth, disappointed with their third loss in five away games.