Real Madrid ended their Champions League league phase campaign with a comfortable 3–0 victory against Brest at the Stade de Roudourou.
The last time Real Madrid played a Ligue 1 side in France, the defending European champions were on the wrong end of shocking upset to Lille. Three months later, Los Blancos came into their final league phase match against Brest with their strongest XI available.
The visitors got off to a slow start, but eventually found the game’s opening goal in the 27th minute. Rodrygo showed off his dribbling skills as he carved through Brest’s defense with a strong run into the box that he finished off with a low shot. With a little help from the woodwork, the Brazilian gave his side the 1–0 lead.
Brest thought they had found an equalizer in the 51st minute, but Ludovic Ajorque’s effort was offside. Just five minutes later, Jude Bellingham doubled Real Madrid’s lead. The hosts saw any chance of salvaging a result slip through their fingers when Rodrygo scored his second of the night in the 78th minute.
Although Real Madrid could not secure a spot in the top eight of the league phase standings, they still advanced to the Champions League knockout phase playoffs after a shaky start to their title defense and will await their playoff opponent in Friday’s draw.
Check out the player ratings from Real Madrid’s comfortable 3–0 victory below.
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Ratings provided by FotMob
Players
Ratings
GK: Thibaut Courtois
7.9/10
RB: Lucas Vázquez
8.3/10
CB: Aurélien Tchouaméni
6.9/10
CB: Antonio Rüdiger
7.3/10
LB: Ferland Mendy
7.2/10
DM: Fede Valverde
7.6/10
DM: Luka Modrić
8.3/10
RW: Brahim Díaz
6.4/10
AM: Jude Bellingham
8.3/10
LW: Rodrygo
9.4/10
ST: Kylian Mbappé
6.6/10
SUB: Arda Güler(73′ for Díaz)
6.3/10
SUB: Dani Ceballos (82′ for Bellingham)
6.2/10
SUB: David Alaba(82′ for Tchouaméni)
6.2/10
SUB: Raúl Asencio(83′ for Vázquez)
6.2/10
SUB: Endrick(82′ for Modrić)
6.1/10
Player of the Match: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
READ THE LATEST UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS, PREDICTIONS AND MORE
Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Thembinkosi Lorch has snubbed interest from a Saudi Arabia club, with his Chloorkop exit ‘confirmed’. Jeddah SC, a first division side in Saudi, registered interest in the talented winger-cum-midfielder.
The club was eager to snap up the skilful attacker on a five month deal as they push for promotion to the Saudi Pro League.
However, the former Orlando Pirates is said to have resisted advances from the club. Coincidentally, on Wednesday, Lorch was not at Chloorkop for training with the rest of his Sundowns teammates.
It had earlier been anticipated that he would make a move, with Kaizer Chiefs pushing to sign him. However, their efforts were unsuccessful with the two clubs not agreeing on a transfer fee.
The 31-year-old made 27 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring seven goals. He joined the club on deadline day of the January transfer window in 2024. However, this season, he has only featured in six matches for Sundowns and is keen to increase his playing time.
HOW LORCH’S SUNDOWNS EXIT WAS CONFIRMED
Upon enquiry, Masandawana reportedly told the Saudi side that an agreement had been reached to loan out the player. It was further indicated that ‘the deal’ was now subject to a routine medical.
Thembinkosi Lorch. Picture by Mamelodi Sundowns
Lorch has been strongly linked with Rulani Mokwena’s Wydad Athletic Club. Interestingly, the Casablanca giants still have one slot for a foreigner ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Friday.
Lorch could now reunite with Mokwena in Morocco subject to a routine medical. The transfer window in Morocco closes on Friday 31 January 2025.
At Wydad, he will also team up with South African striker Cassius Mailula who is also on loan from MLS side Toronto FC.
Meanwhile, Rushine De Reuck, who has also been struggling for game time at Sundowns, has already been unveiled by Israeli outfit Maccabi Petah Tikva. He joined the club on a loan deal that keeps him in Israel until the end of the season.
Lesiba Nku, now at Stellenbosch FC on a permanent deal, also had his exit confirmed. Versatile midfielder Lebohang Maboe also moved to Tshwane neighbours SuperSport United, a move announced by Matsatsantsa.
RELATED STORY: Saudi club eyes Lorch following Chiefs transfer failure
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 17: Thembinkosi Lorch of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates his goal with coach Rulani Mokwena during the Nedbank Cup, Last 16 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on March 17, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
News reaching the Siya crew is that Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch is believed to be closing in on a loan move to Wydad Casablanca.
As previously reported by the Siya crew, Wydad had inquired about the availability of the Bafana Bafana midfielder and now insiders close to the Brazilians and the player have indicated to this publication that the two clubs are believed to be close to agreeing on a six-month loan deal.
Read: Cardoso Backs Midfielder For New Sundowns Contract?
The sources privy to reliable information have stated that the 31-year-old beat the transfer window deadline and now looks set to reunite with coach Rulani Mokwena in Morocco.
“Yes, Thembinkosi Lorch has been loaned out to Wydad Casablanca. Everything is as good as done. Of course he still has to go for medicals as a formality but as of now all the logistics between the two clubs have been finalised and they have agreed on a six-month loan until the end of the season. He will be jetting of to Morocco soon and they made sure the deal was done before the registration deadline and now that’s done,” the source told Soccer Laduma.
Meanwhile, a second insider stated that Wydad is not ruling out the possibility of keeping Lorch after the loan deal.
“For now, it’s just a loan deal until the end of the season and after that they will look at their needs for the next season. That is when Wydad will decide whether they want to keep him longer or not as he still has a contract with Sundowns until June 2027. So, all the new developments will be looked at toward the end of the season,” the second insider told the Siya crew.
Watch Champions League games live in the UK for £31 a month
TNT Sports
See more details
See at DAZN
Watch Champions League in Canada from CA$30 a month
DAZN
See more details
See at Stan Sport
Watch the Champions League in Australia from AU$27 a month
Stan Sport
See more details
There’s work to be done for Bayern Munich today if they are to avoid the UEFA Champions League playoffs, as they go in search of a win at home against Slovakian strugglers Slovan Bratislava.
Last week’s 3-0 loss to Feyenoord means Bayern come into this final league phase fixture in 15th, with a point separating them from the automatic qualification spots.
They face a Bratislava side that are second from bottom in the table and about to bow out of the competition, having failed to register a single point in their seven matches so far.
Bayern Munich take on Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Allianz Arena. Kickoff is set for a 9 p.m. CET local time start in Germany, making it an 8 p.m. GMT kickoff in the UK. It’s a 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT start in the US and Canada, and a 7 a.m. AEDT kickoff in Australia on Thursday morning.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
Left-back Alphonso Davies faces a late fitness test for Bayern Munich ahead of today’s game.
Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/Getty Images
Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Slovan Bratislava in the US
American soccer fans can stream every fixture of this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the UEFA Champions League.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $8 a month and Premium for $13 a month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Read our Paramount Plus review.
How to watch every UEFA Champions League 2024/25 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view UCL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)
Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Slovan Bratislava in the UK
TNT Sports broadcast the majority of Champions League games in the UK, with this match set to be shown live on TNT Sports 7.
TNT Sports
TNT Sports is offering the lions’ share of Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in a number of ways, including via Sky Q as a TV package, or direct streaming from its range of mobile and smart TV apps. It costs £31 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus’ library of documentary content.
Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Slovan Bratislava in Canada
If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.
DAZN
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Slovan Bratislava in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.
Stan
Stan Sport will set you back AU$15 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It’s also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try to fix quickly. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Watch Champions League games live in the UK for £31 a month
TNT Sports
See more details
See at DAZN
Watch Champions League in Canada from CA$30 a month
DAZN
See more details
See at Stan Sport
Watch the Champions League in Australia from AU$27 a month
Stan Sport
See more details
It’s a game neither side can afford to lose on Wednesday as Stuttgart host PSG in the crucial final first-round UEFA Champions League at the MHPArena.
PSG come into the match in 22nd place, while the home side are in an even more precarious position two places below in the final playoff qualification spot.
A draw looks set to be enough for the two sides to progress, but both managers are unlikely to leave things to chance and play for a draw, making this one of the picks of today’s simultaneous Champions League matchups.
Stuttgart take on PSG on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the MHPArena. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Germany, making it an 8 p.m. GMT kickoff in the UK. It’s a 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT start in the US and Canada, and a 7 a.m. AEDT kickoff in Australia on Thursday morning.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
Gonçalo Ramos scored PSG’s fourth goal in his side’s sensational 4-2 comeback win over Manchester City last time out in the Champions League.
Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/Getty Images
Livestream Stuttgart vs. PSG in the US
American soccer fans can stream every fixture of this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the UEFA Champions League.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $8 a month and Premium for $13 a month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Read our Paramount Plus review.
How to watch every UEFA Champions League 2024/25 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view UCL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)
Livestream Stuttgart vs. PSG in the UK
TNT Sports broadcast the majority of Champions League games in the UK, with this match set to be shown live on TNT Sports 8.
TNT Sports
TNT Sports is offering the lions’ share of Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in a number of ways, including via Sky Q as a TV package, or direct streaming from its range of mobile and smart TV apps. It costs £31 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus’ library of documentary content.
Livestream Stuttgart vs. PSG in Canada
If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.
DAZN
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream Stuttgart vs. PSG in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.
Stan
Stan Sport will set you back AU$15 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It’s also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try to fix quickly. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Watch Champions League games live in the UK for £31 a month
TNT Sports
See more details
See at DAZN
Watch Champions League in Canada from CA$30 a month
DAZN
See more details
See at Stan Sport
Watch the Champions League in Australia from AU$27 a month
Stan Sport
See more details
Another absorbing “Battle of Britain” is in store today in the UEFA Champions League, between Aston Villa of the English Premier League and Scottish champions Celtic. Both sides need a win to boost their hopes of automatic qualification for the last 16.
Currently one place outside the top eight, who go through automatically and avoid a playoff round, Villa will be determined to make up for last week’s disappointing defeat to Monaco with a win — and hope other results go their way.
Like Villa, Celtic have their place in the playoffs confirmed. But despite being nine places below in 18th, Brendan Rodgers’ team are in with a mathematical chance of an automatic qualification spot provided they claim a win today, with just a point separating them from eighth-placed Leverkusen.
Aston Villa take on Celtic on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Villa Park in Birmingham. Kickoff is set for an 8 p.m. GMT start local time in the UK, making it a 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT kickoff in the US and Canada, and a 7 a.m. AEDT start time in Australia on Thursday morning.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
Morgan Rogers was on target for Aston Villa in their 1-1 draw with West Ham at the weekend.
James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images
Livestream Aston Villa vs. Celtic in the US
American soccer fans can stream every fixture of this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the UEFA Champions League.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $8 a month and Premium for $13 a month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Read our Paramount Plus review.
How to watch every UEFA Champions League 2024/25 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view UCL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)
Livestream Aston Villa vs. Celtic in the UK
TNT Sports broadcast the majority of Champions League games in the UK, with this match set to be shown live on TNT Sports 1.
TNT Sports
TNT Sports is offering the lions’ share of Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in a number of ways, including via Sky Q as a TV package, or direct streaming from its range of mobile and smart TV apps. It costs £31 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus’ library of documentary content.
Livestream Aston Villa vs. Celtic in Canada
If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.
DAZN
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream Aston Villa vs. Celtic in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.
Stan
Stan Sport will set you back AU$15 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It’s also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try to fix quickly. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
