An impressive XV of France, Mbappé still decisive and Bielsa thrown out… Discover the tops and flops of the Figaro sports department.
Tops
The XV of France (again) marks the spirits
What a demonstration of the Blues! The French rugby team has indeed avoided the Scottish trap at Murrayfield by delivering a full and successful match for a recital (17-36). Six beautiful tries and a well-deserved offensive bonus point for Fabien Galthié, more than ever in the race for a first Grand Slam since 2010. It will still be necessary to confirm during a trip to Wales before the reception of England in Wales. But Antoine Dupont and his teammates seem equipped, physically and tactically, to do so. Enthusiastic.
Mbappé “zlatane” the Greens
As Zlatan Ibrahimovic took pleasure in doing during his time at PSG (2012-2016), Kylian Mbappé beat the Greens (almost) single-handedly. In the oven and in the mill for several matches, the world champion was involved in the three goals which allowed PSG to overthrow Saint-Etienne on Saturday evening (3-1). A decisive pass and above all a life-saving double which, in a wink of fate, allows the crack of Bondy to join the Swedish giant in the second step of Parisian scorers in history (156 goals in all competitions). Heading now for Edinson Cavani’s 200? “Being the top scorer in the history of PSG, you can’t necessarily spit on it. We’ll see how it goes.” evaded the person concerned in the mixed zone. This will (very) certainly go through a contract extension.
Read alsoMbappé: “Top scorer in the history of PSG? You can’t spit on it”
Winning returns Pogacar and Van Aert
This is called arriving on time. Highly anticipated for their return to the road, Tadej Pogacar and Wout Van Aert, two of the most successful riders in the current peloton, responded this Saturday. The Slovenian first, authoritative winner of the 7e and last stage of the UAE Tour, won the general of the event disputed on the land of its sponsor. A few hours later, on a playground that he particularly likes, Van Aert signed his return by winning the Omloop Het Nieuwblad with authority, which marks the opening of the cycling season in Belgium. Already dominating in the cyclo-cross undergrowth at the start of the year, the Belgian champion has made a resounding return to the road, where he adds another classic to his record. He will be the man to kill during the Ardennes and Flanders campaigns.
Read alsoCycling: two stages and general classification, winning return for Pogacar on the UAE Tour
Flops
Back to earth for Christmas
Delicate return to reality for Clément Noël. Arrived weighted with his brand new status as Olympic slalom champion, the Vosgien disappointed for his return to the World Cup circuit. Worse, the tricolor lived a dark weekend at the diptych of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany), where he went to fault on Saturday and Sunday. If he agreed that he had “failed to adaptSaturday, Noël was even more disappointed this Sunday:I don’t really understand, it’s often been like that this season and it’s hard to accept“. And for good reason, the slalom specialist is carrying out a very bad operation in the race for the small globe of the specialty, since he is now 179 points behind the Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, big winner of the Bavarian weekend, where he achieved a spectacular double.
One defeat too many for Bielsa
Already on the edge of the precipice before the meeting, Marcelo Bielsa had no reason to hope after another defeat, this time against Tottenham this Saturday (0-4). A final slap to punctuate a week with three defeats but above all 14 goals conceded for a team that has never seemed so helpless. Exceeded in large widths, as in Liverpool on Wednesday (6-0), his team, certainly amputated from several elements, showed a worrying weakness. Worst defense in the elite (60 goals conceded, 4 more than all of last season), Leeds are getting closer and closer to the red zone. Untenable, Bielsa’s situation was settled in the early morning of Sunday, when the former OM coach ended up being sacked after three and a half exciting years at the head of the Peacocks. “It was the hardest decision I had to make during my time at Leeds.“, Lamented the president and owner Andrea Radrizzani, proof of the imprint left by the Argentine in the Whites. And the wave of reactions from players and fans on Twitter confirms this feeling.
Read alsoPremier League: Leeds part ways with Marcelo Bielsa
Italy’s Calvary
Ireland made short work of Italy (57-6), this Sunday, on the occasion of the 3rd day of the Six Nations Tournament. A long ordeal for the Nazionale, forced to evolve to 13 from the 20th minute (rule of deficiency after the exit of its two hookers) and which conceded nine tries, with in particular doubled from Michael Lowry and James Lowe. For a 35th transalpine defeat in a row in the Tournament since 2015… The 100th in the competition for Italy since the year 2000. Endless…
Read alsoSix Nations: why the Italians played 13 against Ireland
