Brest achieved a monumental feat by qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history on Sunday, while Paris Saint-Germain finished their Ligue 1 season with a 2-0 victory over Metz, despite the absence of Kylian Mbappe.

Brest, one of the smallest clubs in France's top division, started the day in fourth place, level on points with Lille but trailing on goal difference. With the top three in Ligue 1 earning direct spots in the next season's expanded 36-team Champions League and the fourth-placed team entering the preliminary rounds, Brest needed both a win and a slip-up from Lille.

Brest delivered on their end with a commanding 3-0 victory at Toulouse, thanks to second-half goals from Mahdi Camara, Jordan Amavi, and Kenny Lala. Their hopes were realized when Lille conceded a late equalizer to Nice, resulting in a 2-2 draw and allowing Brest to leapfrog into third place.

Lille, who once looked set for a win with goals from Hakon Haraldsson and Benjamin Andre after Gaetan Laborde's early strike for Nice, were left disappointed by Jordan Lotomba’s injury-time goal. This means Lille will now face two qualifying rounds to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

Brest, having never finished above eighth in Ligue 1, will now play in European competition for the first time. Due to UEFA regulations, it is anticipated that they will play their home Champions League matches at a neutral venue, as their Stade Francis-Le Blé does not meet the required standards.

"It's difficult to describe the emotion. Even as a player, I never experienced emotions like it," said Brest's coach Eric Roy, a former midfielder for Marseille and Sunderland. "We thoroughly deserve it after the season we have had."

In contrast, PSG rested several first-team players, including Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marquinhos, and Vitinha, but still secured a 2-0 win over Metz with early goals from Carlos Soler and Lee Kang-in. Mbappe, who is expected to leave PSG for Real Madrid after the season, missed the match due to a hamstring issue and is likely to return for the French Cup final against Lyon.

Metz, despite the defeat, remains in contention to stay in Ligue 1 as they finished in the relegation play-off spot. They edged out Lorient on the away goals rule in their head-to-head results, although both teams ended level on points and goal difference.

Elsewhere, Lyon capped a remarkable turnaround by qualifying for the Europa League. Alexandre Lacazette's stoppage-time penalty secured a 2-1 win over Strasbourg, ensuring Lyon finished sixth. This revival, under new coach Pierre Sage, saw Lyon win 15 of their last 20 league games. They now prepare for the French Cup final against PSG next weekend.

In other results, runners-up Monaco thrashed Nantes 4-0, Marseille missed out on European qualification despite a 2-1 win at Le Havre, and Reims defeated Rennes 2-1.