As the French Championnat play-off competition reaches its climax this weekend in Paris and Lille, the top four teams are set to battle it out for the championship in what promises to be an exciting and highly competitive series of matches.
In Lille, the eight-time reigning league champions are the heavy favourites for the title and will be playing in front of a home crowd at the Marx Dormoy Swimming Pool. Having remained unbeaten throughout the regular season, Lille is in pole position to take their ninth successive French League title. In the semi-finals, they will be up against Grand Nancy, whose Montenegrin coach, Marko Damjanovic, is leaving at the end of the season and will be hoping to bow out on a high note. However, Grand Nancy may have to aim to replicate their bronze medal performance from the French Cup earlier this season.
Meanwhile, the second semi-final promises to be a closely contested affair, with Mulhouse taking on last year’s runners-up, Olympic Nice. Both teams finished the regular season with 24 points, highlighting that there is nothing to separate them. Olympic Nice will be looking to exact revenge for their narrow defeat to Mulhouse in the French Cup back in January (12-11).
Away from the championship playoffs, three teams will be battling it out for the 5th-7th classifications in Paris. INSEP will be hoping to finish 5th as they host Bordeaux and the Swiss national team, who are still searching for their first win of the season.
Women’s Championnat Semi-Finals, Lille
19:00 – LUC Metropole vs Grand Nancy AC
20:30 – Mulhouse WP vs Olympic Nice
Women’s Championnat 5th-7th, INSEP
11:00 – INSEP vs USB Bordeaux
13:00 – INSEP vs Switzerland
15:30 – USB Bordeaux vs Switzerland
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