This weekend in May has marked the history of two French clubs. Paris FC, first, which saw its male team obtain its first climb in Ligue 1, before the Women’s Section won the French Cup the next day. But also the Union Bordeaux-Bègles, qualified for the first Champions Cup final in its history. The history of AS Saint-Etienne could also experience a new chapter, in a less glorious way, while the Greens are getting closer to Ligue 2.. Here is what to remember from this sports weekend.
Football: the doubly historic weekend of Paris FC
Barely a few months after its acquisition by the Arnault and Red Bull family, Paris FC has experienced the most beautiful weekend in its history. The festivities began Friday evening at the final whistle of Martigues-PFC in Ligue 2, with a draw (1-1) which, combined with that of Metz in Rodez (3-3), offered a promotion in Ligue 1 to the club in the south of the capital. It has been forty-six years since the PFC was waiting to find the elite. For the first time in thirty-five years, Paris will have two clubs in Ligue 1.
The next day, the party continued in Calais, thanks to the female section of the club. The players of Paris FC indeed won the first trophy in their history (since the merger with Juvisy, in 2017), by raising the Coupe de France. The Parisians won the penalty shootout against PSG (0-0, 5-4 TAB), and thus offered a first trophy in Gaëtane Tiney, tricolor legend and Paris FC, which will hang the crampons at the end of the season.
Ligue 1: OL stop, Saint-Etienne on the edge of the void
Bison Futé sees red on the European square side, and this traffic jam should last at least two weeks. Two days before the end of the championship, six teams can still claim the last three qualifying places for the next Champions League, behind PSG. Held in check in Lille (1-1), OM has missed the opportunity to get a little ahead. Behind, Monaco, Nice and Strasbourg have nibbled by beating Saint-Etienne (3-1), Reims (1-0) and Paris (2-1) respectively. The poor operation is for Olympique Lyonnais, trapped at home by Lens (1-2).
On the maintenance road, traffic is barely less loaded. If it’s already over for Montpellier, beaten for the 24th time in the season in Brest (1-0), Le Havre carried out the right operation of the weekend by winning in Auxerre (2-1). Always barragists, the Normans return to a point of Nantes (15th, 32 points), beaten 1-0 by Angers (14th, 33 points). The Angevins take the opportunity to return to it, tied with Reims (13th, 33 points), which will receive Saint-Etienne next weekend after his defeat in Nice, Friday (1-0). A match that will sound like the last chance for the Greens (17th, 27 points), who fell at home on Saturday against Monaco (3-1), and who accuse four points on Le Havre.
Rugby: the UBB offers Toulouse … and a first European final
A historic first final for the Union Bordeaux-Bègles! Still marked by the depulotted suffered last year in the final of Top 14 (59-3 for Toulouse), the Bordeaux took their revenge on the Stade Toulousain, Sunday May 4, in the semi-final of Champions Cup. Winners 35-18, the Bordeaux are the first tricolors to bring down the Toulouse stadium (title holder) in the match with direct elimination in champions cup.
To win a first historical title, and become the fifth French club titled, the Union Bordeaux-Bègles will have to bring down the English from Northampton on May 24 in Cardiff. The day before, on the same lawn, another French club will try to win the Cup challenge. The Lou has indeed imposed itself, Sunday, May 4, in the semi-finals against Racing 92 (29-15). The Lyonnais will challenge Bath to win a trophy which they have already won in 2022.
Tennis: Sabalenka confirms, Ruud returns to the foreground
Three weeks from Roland-Garros, Aryna Sabalenka continues to make an impression. Finalist of the last four tournaments she has played, the world number one won the Madrid WTA 1000 on Saturday May 3, against Coco Gauff (6-3, 7-6). On Spanish clay, Aryna Sabalenka made the American fold, who remained on a shattering demonstration in the semi-finals, against Iga Swiatek (6-1, 6-1). This coronation is already the third of the season for the world number one, after its success at the WTA 1000 in Miami and the WTA 500 in Brisbane.
Among men, Casper Ruud won the Madrid tournament on Sunday, his first Masters 1000. The Norwegian dismissed the British Jack Draper in three sets (7-5, 3-6, 6-4), three weeks from Roland-Garros, of which he lost two finals in 2022 and 2023, against Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The former world number two thus returns to the top 10, and now has 13 titles to his record, including 12 on clay.
Formula 1: McLaren Queens of Miami
Double blow for McLaren in Florida. The orange and black single -seaters have left their competitors no chance. If Lando Norris chip on the wire first place in the Sprint race on Saturday, at his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri, the latter took his revenge on Sunday in the long format in Miami.
The leader in the general classification won a fourth victory, the third consecutive, this season. He won before the British Lando Norris and George Russell. Proof of the domination of the McLaren, Oscar Piastri preceded his teammate from a handful of seconds (4 “6), while George Russell points in 3rd position with more than thirty seconds (37” 6). Starting in pole position, Max Verstappen finished at the foot of the podium. The French Isack Hadjar, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly made a group shot, ending respectively at the 11th, 12th and 13th places.
