The French women are world handball champions, PSG are autumn champions despite a draw in Lille, and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet wins a golden hat-trick in biathlon…… A look back at the weekend’s sports news.
The sporting events that should not be missed, the summary of the five major football championships and the image of the weekend… Here is the France 24 sports recap.
French handball players, world champions for the third time: Les Bleues won their third world title on Sunday after a flawless performance that ended in style against Norway (31-28) on Sunday in Herning (Denmark). Twenty years after their first world title, the French women are settling a little further at the top of handball, where until now… the Norwegian women had reigned. A very promising result seven months before the Paris Olympic Games!
Golden hat-trick in biathlon for Justine Braisaz-Bouchet in Lenzerheide: the Frenchwoman signed an exceptional hat-trick this weekend in the Biathlon World Cup in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), the coronation in the mass start on Sunday completing her harvest after her successes in sprint and pursuit. Thanks to her three victories in the space of four days in the high-altitude resort of Graubünden, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet seizes the yellow bib as leader of the World Cup.
Pogacar will participate in the Tour of Italy for the first time: Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar will make his debut on the roads of the Giro! Tadej Pogacar, who won the Tour de France twice (2020, 2021), made this announcement in a video published by the organizers of the Giro 2024: “Andiamo” (literally, let’s go), he said. simply stated.
PSG fall champion, OM gets closer to the podium, OL surprises Monaco
OGC Nice and AS Monaco having fallen this weekend, respectively against Le Havre (3-1) and Lyon (0-1), during the 16th day of the French championship, PSG officially became champion of fall, Sunday evening, even before the draw conceded on the Lille pitch (1-1). The Mastiffs managed to equalize at the very end of the match at the end of stoppage time thanks to a furious header from their striker Jonathan David. The Parisians opened the scoring from the penalty spot thanks to the championship’s top scorer Kylian Mbappé (16 goals in 15 matches)
Stade Brestois (5th), the surprise team of this season which took 13 points out of 15 in its last five matches, won in Nantes (0-2), while Olympique de Marseille continued its comeback in the standings (6th, 26 points) by laboriously overcoming the new red lantern Clermont (2-1).
Finally, RC Lens (7th, 26 points) achieved a very happy success on Saturday against Stade de Reims (2-0), which allows it to join the wagon of clubs which dream of a European destiny.
Arsenal new leader, Manchester City still hanging on
Liverpool ceded first place in the championship on Sunday to the Arsenal Gunners (39 points), who defeated Brighton (2-0), after being neutralized on their lawn by their historic rival Manchester United (0-0), at the occasion of the 17th day.
Despite 69% possession and 34 shots, it is the first time this season that the Reds (2nd, 38 points) have lost points at home. Surprisingly third in the standings, with the same number of points as Jürgen Klopp’s men, Aston Villa pulled away to win at Brentford (1-2), while Manchester City (4th, 34 points) again gave up points en route by squandering a two-goal lead on Saturday against Crystal Palace (2-2).
A week after having destroyed Newcastle (4-1), a direct opponent for the European places, Tottenham (5th, 33 pts) confirmed its renewed form by logically winning in Nottingham (0-2).
Inter takes the lead, Bologna still stronger
Inter Milan (41 points) did not fall into the trap set by Lazio (2-0), Sunday in Rome, during the 16th day of the Italian Championship. Although pushed around by their opponents, the Nerazzurri showed relentless efficiency like their French striker Marcus Thuram, scorer of his team’s second goal.
The Interists widen the gap at the top with now 4 points ahead of Juventus (2nd, 37 points), held in check by Genoa (1-1) on Friday. Even if it remains at a distance from the leading duo, AC Milan (3rd, 32 points) got its head back on track after its defeat in stoppage time against Atalanta Bergamo, during the day previous, by crushing Monza (3-0).
Bologna, which has continued to progress since the arrival on the bench, in September 2022, of former Parisian Thiago Motta, dominated AS Roma (2-0), deprived of Romelu Lukaku, suspended and Paulo Dybala , hurt. The Rossoblù are now in 4th place (28 points), one point ahead of Naples and Fiorentina.
Real provisional leader, Barça trapped in Valencia
Ruthless at home, Real Madrid crushed Villarreal (4-1) on Sunday and temporarily rose to the top of La Liga before the closing match of the 17th day which will pit Girona, 2nd by one point, against Alavés on Monday evening. . The Madrilenians, who now have 42 points, have widened the gap on FC Barcelona (3rd, 35 pts), held in check the day before in Valencia (1-1), and Atlético Madrid (4th, 34 pts), sharply beaten in Bilbao (2-0). The Catalans remain on a worrying series of 3 matches without a victory.
At the bottom of the ranking, Sevilla FC (16th) recorded its seventh defeat of the season, humiliated at home by Getafe (0-3). One setback too many for Uruguayan coach Diego Alonso, who arrived at the beginning of October and was sacked after just one victory recorded… in the Copa del Rey.
Leverkusen and Bayern escape in the lead
Impressive since the start of the season and the last undefeated team in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen (1st, 39 points) continues to challenge the supremacy of Bayern Munich (2nd, 35 points). The club coached by Xabi Alonso, the most promising technician of his generation, remains leader ahead of the Bavarians thanks to a convincing victory against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0), as part of the 15th day. Beaten by Stuttgart (3-0) thanks to a new goal from Harry Kane, Bayern, who have a match in hand to play on January 24 at home against Union Berlin, are following the pace of the leader.
In the climbing family, we ask for the mother Cécile Allez, the daughter Zélia and the two brothers Sam and Léo. A tribe united around the passion for climbing but also the dream of the two youngest of competing in the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. Interview.
The NBA does not forget its legends. San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama’s Texan franchise, paid tribute on Sunday to one of its former glories, Tony Parker, after his induction into the Hall of Fame last August. “San Antonio is my home and always will be,” said the Frenchman, four-time NBA champion with the Spurs (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014).