This first-leg clash marked a historic evening as it was the first all-French Champions League knockout tie since Lyon and Bordeaux met in 2009/10.
These two sides are obviously very familiar with each other as they both play in Ligue 1, but there was still a sense that the pair were feeling each other out in the early stages.
However, the deadlock was so nearly broken in bizarre fashion, when early on, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s attempted clearance cannoned off the head of Ludovic Ajorque and dropped inches wide of the post.
PSG took full advantage of that reprieve, getting yet more fortune up the other end when Ousmane Dembele’s goalbound effort was blocked by the hand of Pierre Lees-Melou almost on the line.
Vitinha stepped forward for the resulting spot-kick, confidently rolling the ball into the corner to fire Les Parisiens ahead.
That was a huge blow to Brest in what is their maiden European campaign, but they came so close to getting back on level terms before the break as Abdallah Sima climbed highest in the area and crashed a header against the post.
In his current form, it wouldn’t be a PSG game without Dembele getting involved, and the Frenchman’s now customary goal duly arrived before half-time when he drove forward down the right, stepped inside, and slammed home a left-footed effort at the near post.
Remaining in the tie was now the primary aim for Brest, and they were almost left with a mountain to climb within five minutes of the restart as Desire Doue tapped home into an empty net, only to be denied by an offside in the build-up.
Eventually, the visitors’ third did arrive though, and there were no prizes for guessing who was involved. Dembele was quickest to react to a loose ball inside the area, forcing a strike home to kill the game, and most likely the tie.
Brest tried desperately in the closing stages to find a goal that would’ve restored some hope to the tie, but they couldn’t find it and now sit on the brink of elimination, while PSG are now all but assured of a 13th successive last 16 appearance in the Champions League.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ousmane Dembele (PSG)