Yes, coming out of BBH, the perspective of facing Ikast was not necessarily seen in a good light, given the problems the Danish team posed to the Finistèriennes in the group stage. The upcoming double confrontation against Bistrita calls for caution. Fourth in Group B, behind Györ, Metz, and Esbjerg, the Romanians indeed overcame the quadruple Danish champions in the play-offs, with a convincing performance (+10 goals over the two matches).
A “hyper-structured” club but still inexperienced in the C1
Promised their first Romanian championship title after a recent victory over CSM Bucarest, who had caused trouble for BBH in early February, Bistrita is a team with a strong Spanish influence, with a dynamic style of play,” explains Brest coach Raphaëlle Tervel. A young club, with little experience at the highest European level (2nd participation in the Champions League), but still “very structured and highly ambitious,” adds sports manager Nicolas Roué.
As finalists of the European League (C3) in 2024, the team led by former Brest player Monika Kobylinska relies heavily on their left back Danila So Delgado, the second top scorer in the Champions League (with 104 goals, behind Henny Reistad’s 116), and their goalkeeper Renata De Arruda, “capable of catching fire,” as Roué warns. On paper, they may be the most accessible among the other quarter-finalists, while Brest has “proved a lot” by finishing at the top of its group, aiming for the second Final 4 in its history.
