The Blues saved their Six Nations Tournament by overthrowing England, Mbappé revived PSG while FC Barcelona brought down Atlético at home thanks to a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski.
Published on: 03/18/2024 – 11:12
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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.
Small globe for Jeanmonnot : the Frenchwoman set a date for the future by winning the last mass start of the season in Canmore (Canada), winning the small crystal globe of the discipline in the process. The big biathlon globe goes to the Italian Lisa Vittozzi. A promising third professional season since the Frenchwoman missed two races due to Covid-19 contamination. Where would it be without these missing points? The sacred French swordswomen : sabreurs Sara Balzer, Cécilia Berder, Manon Apithy-Brunet and Sarah Noutcha won the World Cup stage in Saint-Nicolas (Belgium) on Sunday, once again confirming their status as favorites just over four months before the Games from Paris. Elisa Balsamo on the Binda Trophy : Italian Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) won the 25th edition of the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, the Monument of Italian cycling, on Sunday. She beat Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime) in the sprint, depriving her of a third consecutive victory. Félix Lebrun in History in Singapore : Félix Lebrun became the first European table tennis player to qualify for the semi-finals of the Singapore Smash. The young 17-year-old Frenchman, however, lost to Wang Chuqin, second player in the world and future winner of the tournament, in five sets (4-1).
Mbappé revives PSG with a hat-trick, Gasset’s OM stalls
“Aren’t you happy? Triple.” A spectacular hat-trick from Kylian Mbappé allowed Paris SG to return to victory on Sunday for the 26th day of Ligue 1 in Montpellier (6-2), widening the gap at the top a little further. The Parisians finally win after three draws against Rennes (1-1), Monaco (0-0) and Reims (2-2). They are now 12 points ahead of Brest and 13 over Monaco, their pursuers, who both conceded a draw this weekend.
Rennes beat Olympique de Marseille (2-0) and returned to their level, three points behind Europe. Jean-Louis Gasset’s OM experienced a real slump. After five victories in a row in all competitions since his arrival on the bench, his team lost twice in four days. The defeat at Villarreal (3-1) on Thursday was of no consequence, the Phocéens having won 4-0 their round of 16 first leg of the Europa League, but the defeat at Roazhon Park put a brake on their rise in the standings.
Defending champion versus future champion
Inter Milan saw their streak of ten consecutive victories end against Naples, who snatched a draw (1-1) at San Siro on Sunday.
Bad week for Inter: four days after its elimination in the round of 16 of the Champions League on penalties by Atlético Madrid, Simone Inzaghi’s players lost their first points of the year 2024.
However, they took the advantage in the 43rd minute thanks to Matteo Darmian, but Napoli, without their scorer Victor Osimhen remaining on the bench, equalized on a header from Juan Jesus (81st).
The Nerazzurri remain well ahead of the championship with 14 points ahead of AC Milan, winner earlier in Verona (3-1), and are heading towards the 20th championship title in their history.
FC Barcelona brings down Atlético at home
Solid and inspired, FC Barcelona struck a major blow on Sunday by winning their shock against Atlético Madrid (3-0) at the Metropolitano, thanks in particular to a huge Robert Lewandowski, to take second place in Liga behind Real Madrid.
Now undefeated for ten matches in all competitions, Barça (second, 64 points) finally overtakes its Catalan neighbor Girona (third, 62 points) and remains eight lengths behind Real, solid leader, with a Clasico to play in April. Atlético (fifth, 55 points), which conceded its first defeat at home in more than a year (25 matches), gave up its fourth place, qualifying for the Champions League, to Athletic Bilbao (fourth, 56 points) and is 17 points behind its Madrid rival.
Bayer still 10 points ahead of Bayern
Bayer Leverkusen moved even closer to a very probable German championship title by dominating ninth-placed Freiburg (3-2) on Sunday during the 26th day of the Bundesliga.
Eight days before the end of the championship, Xabi Alonso’s men are touching a historic first title and it is clear that it is difficult to imagine a contrary scenario while Bayern Munich is still second ten points behind (60 points), after his victory against Darmstadt.
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League took place on Friday. After taking out Real Sociedad in the round of 16, the Parisians will face FC Barcelona, the former club of their coach Luis Enrique. A meeting with a taste of revenge.
Read alsoIn the quarter-final of the Champions League, PSG and Luis Enrique will meet Barça
The joy of Carlos Alcaraz after his coronation at Indian Wells, which ended nine months of drought without a title. © Frederic J. Brown, AFP
