Mbappé, La Rochelle, Quartararo, Toulouse… the tops and flops of the sports weekend
OPINION – Find the tops and flops of the sports weekend noted by the Figaro sports editorial staff.
Mbappé ensures both on and off the pitch
“KM7” on all terrains. Impeccable in Montpellier, during a “Vacancico” where the Bondynois, anything but on vacation, delivered a new recital (one goal, two assists for Leo Messi), he provided after-sales service during the trophy ceremony UNFP this Sunday. Unsurprisingly elected best player of the season, for the third time in a row (a record), the Parisian striker knew his decision concerning his future. “My decision is almost made, you will know very quickly“, was content to reveal the star of PSG, concerned about”not pull the blanket on the ceremony as (he) was able to do in 2019.” A decision that he should reveal in the coming days since he explained that it will be revealed “long before» the matches of the Blues at the beginning of June.
SEE ALSO – Mbappé’s hat-trick with PSG in Clermont on April 9 (1-6)
Read alsoPSG: author of a new recital in Montpellier, Mbappé has not yet finished the job
La Rochelle back in the Champions Cup final
In a choppy semi-final with numerous fouls committed, 19 for Racing and 12 for La Rochelle, the Maritimes managed to clinch a ticket for a second consecutive Champions Cup final. Stade Rochelais won 20-13 with two tries from Alldritt (40and) and West (80and) and a penalty try (53and) (video summary here). Ronan O’Gara’s men again reach the European final, which is played on May 28 at the Vélodrome against Leinster, authoritarian winner of Toulouse in the other semi-final on Saturday. The objective for the Maritimes will be to succeed Stade Toulousain, winners last year, so that the European trophy remains in France.
Read alsoTops / Flops Racing 92-Stade Rochelais: the Rochelais back in the final, the Ile-de-France residents too undisciplined
The Celtics bring down the champion
The Milwaukee Bucks don’t do the double. Pushed by the Celtics to the decisive match after losing at home in Game 6 (95-108), the 2021 champions lost largely Sunday evening at TD Garden Boston (109-81). In the wake of Jayson Tatum, hero of the Boston franchise still to his advantage on Sunday (23 points), the Celtics have paid the head of the armada around Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 pts, 20 rebounds on Sunday) to find the final of Eastern Conference. They will face the Miami Heat there in a clash between two teams eliminated in the first round of the play-offs last year.
Read alsoNBA: Celtics release Milwaukee Bucks, defending champions
Djokovic sends a serious message before Roland-Garros
The day after his entry into the 1000 club, Novak Djokovic won his 38th Masters 1000 in style. His sixth in Rome, where he remained untouchable all week (no set lost). Terrien asserted and revengeful experience after his lost Roland-Garros final last year, Stefanos Tsitsipas made it bitter this Sunday. Swept away in two sets (6-0, 7-6), the Greek was able to see that the world number 1 had regained his feelings one week before a Roland which could take place without Rafael Nadal, injured in the foot. “Nole” thus poses a serious contender for his own succession at Porte d’Auteuil, while among the girls, Iga Swiatek, victorious in Rome for her fifth consecutive tournament, simply seems untouchable.
Read alsoTennis: Djokovic not in favor of a boycott of Wimbledon
The French replace each other on the Giro
In a plateau more open than ever, Guillaume Martin and Romain Bardet, who are both discovering the Tour of Italy, stood out this weekend on the slopes of the Giro. Saturday first for the Norman from Cofidis, “almost inadvertently ahead” to participate in the breakaway of the day, concluded with the victory of Belgian adventurer Thomas De Gendt. This Sunday, Bardet almost celebrated his extension with the DSM formation with a victory at the top of the Blockhaus. It took a gut, that of Jai Hindley, winner of the 9th stage, to complete his triptych (a victory on each big tour). “It’s hard to accept… I made a mistake in the last corner, it’s the few centimeters I miss on the line“, will regret the person concerned. But at the time of doing the accounts, the two French climbers have replaced each other in the top 10.
Read alsoTour of Italy: Hindley ahead of Bardet at the top of the Blockhaus, Lopez barely saves his pink jersey
FLOPS
Quartataro and Zarco powerless at Le Mans
Expected at the turn at home, Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco failed at the foot of the podium of the Grand Prix de France. If the second city, fifth after a good comeback (a time 10and of the race), said he was “satisfied” with his race, his compatriot world champion was much less happy after having once again suffered on the handlebars of his Yamaha M1, deficient against the rest of the competition. “We are still missing the same thing, we are stuck behind without the possibility of overtaking“, a cursed the Niçois at the microphone of Canal+. If he limited the breakage with a fourth place which allows him to remain in control of the championship, “El Diablo” urged his team to move forward on pain of seeing the competition get closer: “We lack potential, and we will need big changes.
Read alsoQuartararo, frustrated after the French Grand Prix, demands changes for his bike
Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux go straight there
Sentenced to receive Reims behind closed doors, Saint-Etienne scuttled himself at home (1-2). In the absence of its supporters, ASSE did not manage to bend a team which nevertheless had nothing left to play for. Now tied on points with Metz, who have chained two victories in a row to snatch the play-off spot from them on goal difference (favorable +5 for Lorraine), ASSE will have to go through a feat in Nantes to hope to stay in the league. ‘elite. For Bordeaux, bottom three points behind following a sad draw against Lorient, 17th (0-0), it will take more than a miracle.
Read alsoBordeaux sentenced to Ligue 2: a descent into hell in ten key dates
End of the Irish trip to Toulouse
Toulouse took a “real rugby lesson” this Saturday in Dublin (40-18). And the least we can say is that the victory of Leinster suffers from no challenge as the Irish have dominated the debates and put their hand on this semi-final. After resisting for a long time, Ugo Mola’s players finally gave in. Heavily. The difference in level was glaring, the outgoing European champions appeared dull. Unable to place spikes in the blue wall that stood in front of them. The Reds and Blacks don’t make the pass of three: after having taken out Ulster in the eighth then Munster in the quarters, they fell to the third and most formidable of the Irish provinces, Leinster. The step was too high. We will now have to focus on the Top 14 and get our ticket to the finals. For the Reds and Blacks, currently sixth in the league, this will involve a trip to Brive then the reception of Biarritz. Completely playable.
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