Epic Hamilton-Verstappen duel, triple shock in Ligue 1, follow-up to the biathlon world cup … What you should not miss this weekend of sport

Among the women, the Habs delivered a major performance in the women’s relay event. The French team made up of Anaïs Bescond, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, Julia Simon and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet won in the third race of the weekend. The French women almost had the perfect race, with just four pickaxes. While the Austrian Lisa Theresa Hauser is leader of the classification, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet (5th) is for the moment the only French in the top 10 of the general.

F1: Verstappen-Hamilton, a long-awaited explosive final

Friday December 10 – Free Practice 1: 10:30 am – 11:30 am / Free Practice 2: 2 pm – 3 pm
Saturday 11 December – Free Practice 3: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday 11 December – qualifications: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday 12 December – race: 2 p.m.
To be followed live with commentary on Franceinfo: sport or on Canal +.

We couldn’t have dreamed of a better last Grand Prix for this crazy end of the season. Sunday December 12 in Abu Dhabi, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will cross swords one last time to determine who will be the Formula 1 world champion. Before facing each other on the Yas Marina circuit and after 21 races, the two rival drivers have the same number of points (369.5), although the scenarios that would allow them to win are not exactly the same. Such a balance of points had not been seen since 1974!

A finishing record to behold as we return to Abu Dhabi

We are merely days away from capping and end to our unforgettable season so far # F1 #HistoryAwaits pic.twitter.com/TP2SiaJpni

– Formula 1 (@ F1) December 8, 2021

Even if Lewis Hamilton has won more often in Abu Dhabi, his Dutch competitor had the better of him in 2020, finishing 1st while the Briton was content with a 3rd place. A success that could give him confidence when he crosses the road to Hamilton for a final duel on Sunday, with whom he has an explosive rivalry.

The men’s alpine ski world is passing through France

World Cup in Val-d’Isère (men):
Saturday December 11 – 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m .: giant slalom / Sunday December 12 – 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m .: Slalom

World Cup in St. Moritz (women):
Saturday December 11 – 10:30 am: super-G / Sunday December 12 – 10:30 am: super-G
To be followed live with commentary on Franceinfo: sport or on the L’Equipe channel.

Head to Europe for the Alpine Skiing World Cup circuit. After the North American tour, the men will go to Val d’Isère in France for a giant on Saturday 11 December and the first slalom of the season on Sunday 12. The women will meet in Saint-Moritz in Switzerland for a super-G on Saturday December 11 and another the next day.

The French are expected at the turn in Val-d’Isère. After two speed stages at Beaver Creek (United States), the defending champion of the Big Crystal Globe, Alexis Pinturault, returns to the technical events, where he is most comfortable. Victor Muffat-Jeandet and Clément Noël, respectively first and second in the slalom standings last season, will also be closely scrutinized.

Among the six Frenchwomen who will travel to Saint-Moritz, Tessa Worley is making her comeback for this double super-G. Without a result being particularly awaited, insofar as it is not about his field of predilection. On the other hand, it will be a question of being particularly attentive to the performances of Sofia Goggia. Last weekend in Lake Louise (Canada), the Italian flew over the competition, winning two downhills as well as a super-G.

Kick-off of the European Rugby Cup

Friday December 10 – Pool A: Northampton vs Racing 92 (9 p.m.)

Saturday 11 December – Pool A: Leinster vs Bath (4.15 p.m.) / Clermont vs Ulster (6.30 p.m.) / Exeter vs Montpellier (9.00 p.m.)
Saturday 11 December – Pool B: Cardiff vs Toulouse (2 p.m.) / Bordeaux-Bègles vs Leicester (4:15 p.m.)

Sunday 12 December – Pool A: Ospreys vs Sale (2 p.m.) / La Rochelle vs Glasgow (4:15 p.m.)
Sunday 12 December – Pool B: Connacht vs Stade Français (2 p.m.) / Wasps vs Munster (4:15 p.m.) / Castres vs Harlequins (6.30 p.m.)

To be continued on BeIN Sports, as well as on France 2 for the Bordeaux and La Rochelle matches.

Despite a first day decidedly disrupted by Covid-19 contaminations (the Welsh de Llanelli have withdrawn from their match against Bristol), the European Rugby Cup starts this weekend. Among the forces present, the French clubs are in the majority, tied with the English: eight, on one side and the other. As for them, the Irish have four formations while Glasgow is the only Scottish club involved.

Two more days to wait!

Who will win this weekend?

Watch the first day of the Champions Cup on @beinsports_FR and @ftvsport_pro pic.twitter.com/meQIhDVvIQ

– Champions Cup France (@ChampionsCup_FR) December 8, 2021

Among the meetings involving French clubs, several attracted attention this weekend. The defending European champion Toulouse will try to hold his place against Cardiff on Saturday 11 December at 2 p.m. La Rochelle, unfortunate finalist last year, will start their course against Glasgow on Sunday 12 December at 4.15 p.m. For its part, the Union Bordeaux-Bègles, leader in the Top 14 classification, will take on Leicester on Saturday 11 December at 4.15 p.m.

Handball World Cup: the Blue aim for qualification in the quarterfinals

Saturday 11 December – Serbia vs France (6 p.m.)
To be followed live with commentary on Franceinfo: sport or follow on BeIN Sports.

Four wins in as many games. Here is the assessment of the players of the French handball team in this women’s world. The “Battantes” had a perfect first round, and continued their momentum by winning against Poland with ten goals (26-16) Thursday in the first match of the main round. Still undefeated, the players of Olivier Krumbholz are at the top of their group.

Saturday December 11 at 6:00 p.m., the Blue will try to remain undefeated by defeating Serbia, a selection a priori more robust than Poland. Then all they have to do is face Russia, the last element of this group and which appears to be the most dangerous adversary.

A triple shock in Ligue 1

Sunday 12 December – Lille vs Lyon (1 p.m.) / Rennes vs Nice (3 p.m.) / Paris vs Monaco (8:45 p.m.)
To be followed live with commentary on Franceinfo: sport or follow on Prime Video.

Football fans will not be outdone since they will have three particularly interesting Ligue 1 games to follow. The first will be a shock of the soft underbelly of the championship, involving two teams that can aspire to better since Lille receives Lyon at 1 pm. The Mastiffs remain on an eight-game unbeaten streak tall competitions combined. The latest: their great victory against Wolfsburg in the Champions League offering them qualification for the eighth.

The Lyonnais, them, know a more complicated dynamic. Peter Bosz’s men alternate good and bad in the league and, before thinking of a possible European qualification, will seek to join the first half of the table. A victory for Pierre-Mauroy would be welcome as OL are going through a tense period, between withdrawal of a point and the announced departure of sporting director Juninho.

Then, at 3 p.m., the match between Rennes and Nice takes on the appearance of a fight for the place of dolphin of PSG. Because if Paris is alone in the race in the lead, many are the teams who claim to settle in second place in the standings. Rennes, current second in the championship, has had an admirable first part of the season. And arrives in full confidence after having crushed Saint-Etienne in Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday December 5.

But for their part, the Niçois will certainly offer them a good opposition. After a little adaptation time, Christophe Galthier’s proteges seemed to have integrated the precepts of their new coach, even temporarily taking the place of runner-up. A little less well on their last outings, the Nice players have the opportunity to revive themselves against a direct competitor in the standings.

To close this sports weekend, you can take advantage of an opposition at 8:45 p.m. between Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco. Well ahead in the standings over its pursuers, the Parisian club is however strongly criticized for its mixed victories and an almost non-existent playing field.

The match against Monaco is therefore a good opportunity for Mauricio Pochettino and his family to continue working in the line of the satisfactory match against Bruges (4-1). After his great victory against Real Sociedad allowing him to continue his way in the Europa League, ASM is more convincing in the league than at the start of the season. And on an accounting level, Monaco is not very far from the first five places. Given the irregular level of play displayed by PSG in Ligue 1, a victory is not unexpected and would offer valuable points to the princely club for the rest of the season.