The French rugby team, Isack Hadjar's performance and a goal-filled third day of Ligue 1... The weekend's sports recap

There was something for everyone in terms of sport this weekend before the start of the school year.

comment

• Facebook
• Whatsapp
• X
• E-mail

Reading time: 7 min

While students of all ages are returning to school, professional athletes were already out in force this weekend, just before the start of the school year. Football, rugby, basketball, Formula 1, cycling, ultra-trail, and even badminton, with Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue winning a bronze medal on Saturday in the mixed doubles at the World Championships , or cycling, with another summit finish at the Vuelta a España on Sunday, August 31. There was plenty to enjoy, without having to stay up all night to follow the US Open tennis.

Ligue 1: A productive third day that smiles on OL and PSG

It took PSG just three days to regain the Ligue 1 throne . With a comfortable 6-3 win in Toulouse on Saturday, Luis Enrique's players took control of the championship, while also putting on a show. Joao Neves scored a fabulous hat-trick, including two acrobatic overhead kicks in seven minutes, earning him a 10/10 in L'Equipe . The show was also on in the rain at Le Moustoir, where Lorient lost to Lille (1-7) .

We all dreamed of it when we were little, he did it 🚲

Two acrobatic flips in 7 minutes... ladies and gentlemen: 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 🌟 #TFCPSG pic.twitter.com/cdTYyzL9YI

The closing clash between OL and OM had the opportunity to break the Ligue 1 single-day goal record (43), but they had to settle for a late goal from Lyon (1-0) , which allowed them to claim their third win in as many matches. Only PSG can say the same. In other notable events of the weekend, Paris FC secured their first Ligue 1 win in 46 years, against Metz (3-2) and Estéban Lepaul scored in his first match with Rennes against the club he has just left, Angers, for a final score of 1-1.

On the pitches of other European leagues, Liverpool won the clash against Arsenal (1-0) thanks to a sublime free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai. The two defenders called up by Didier Deschamps to the French national team on Thursday, William Saliba and Ibrahima Konaté, are out injured. The former will be replaced by Benjamin Pavard in the national team, and Hugo Ekitike does the same in place of Rayan Cherki , who is out for two months.

There was little suspense before kick-off. Facing a Brazilian team who were playing their first Rugby World Cup, the French women's team performed logically , despite a significant change in the squad compared to their first match. Led by Pauline Bourdon Sansus, back from suspension and named woman of the match at the end of the match, the French women's team scored no fewer than 14 tries to win with a resounding 84-5 scoreline.

Qualification for the quarter-finals is assured as Italy lost to South Africa (24-29), saying goodbye to the rest of the tournament. France and South Africa will meet next Sunday for the final of this Group D. The winners would likely avoid meeting New Zealand in the next round and should inherit Ireland.

(France TV Sport) 9 min

Returning to the World Cup after a 51-year absence, the French team isn't just playing extras. Having advanced from their group for the first time in their history, they even reached the quarter-finals on Sunday, with a surprise victory against China , the world's fifth-ranked nation. The latter had crushed the French at the Olympics and in the Nations League (3-0 each time), but captain Héléna Cazaute (22 points), Iman Ndiaye (20), and Amélie Rotar (18) were decisive. Once the first act was in the bag, the French pulled out all the stops to take the second set after saving three set points. They then wrapped things up to win 3-1. Now on the agenda is a rematch on Thursday against Brazil, against whom they suffered a comeback (2-3) in the first round.

After an easy first victory in this Euro against Belgium, the Blues followed up on Saturday against Luka Doncic's Slovenia (103-95), despite his 39 points. Pushed around and even trailing at the start of the fourth quarter, they relied on an excellent Sylvain Francisco - 32 points and the cause of scuffles on the court - to win and secure a landmark victory. But this same Sylvain Francisco, like his teammates, had much more difficulty (2 points), against Israel on Sunday ( 82-69 defeat ). Very well organized defensively against the Blues who never got into the game, the Israelis put an end to Frédéric Fauthoux's 11-game winning streak since he took over the French team. The Tricolores will have to bounce back against Poland on Tuesday to hope to qualify for the round of 16.

The world's biggest ultra-trail race took place from Friday to Saturday around Mont Blanc, between France, Switzerland and Italy. It smiled on a 33-year-old Briton, Tom Evans , who raised his arms in Chamonix after a superhuman effort of 19h18'58" to complete the planned 175 km. The previous night, the participants had to endure what the winner described as "British weather", between rain, snow and the obligation to advance in the mud while avoiding falls. The organizers shortened the course , while the French favorite François D'Haene abandoned.

In the women's race, New Zealander Ruth Croft was the first woman to cross the finish line (22h56'23") ahead of Frenchwoman Camille Bruyas. She took advantage of a slump by favorite Courtney Dauwalter, winner in 2019, 2021, and 2023, who was in the lead before the descent of the Grand Col Ferret, to win.

What a weekend for Isack Hadjar! The French Racing Bulls driver had achieved his best qualifying performance, with a fourth place, which he capitalized on Sunday in the race. He made no mistakes to resist Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and George Russell (Mercedes), then took advantage of the retirement of Lando Norris (McLaren), to slip into third place , behind the winner Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull). At 20 years, 11 months and 3 days, he became the youngest Frenchman, and the fifth youngest driver of any nationality, to reach the podium.

Discover our exclusive Rugby World Cup-themed word search puzzles

play now