Tops
David Gaudu at the top of his art
Note: 8/10
David Gaudu took to the slopes of the Sanctuary of Arrate this Saturday.
Winner of the sixth and last stage of the Tour of the Basque Country, the 24-year-old Breton offered himself a prestigious success ahead of Primoz Roglic.
So if the Frenchman's victory was heard when the two men checked in one kilometer from the line - for service rendered, the world number 1 winning the general of the event after effective coordination - this success does not he is no less prestigious for the amazing climber, already brilliant on the Spanish slopes last year, when he won two stages on the Vuelta.
"Pinch me," Gaudu will tweet, ecstatic after the race.
One thing is certain, this fourth victory on the World Tour circuit calls for others for the one who will be promoted to leader of Groupama-FDJ during the Tour de France.
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Tour of the Basque Country: the last for Gaudu, Roglic traps Pogacar
The impressive mastery of Leinster
Note: 9/10
Surrounded by French clubs.
While La Rochelle, Bordeaux-Bègles and Toulouse have climbed into the last four of the Champions Cup, the Irish province of Leinster is an exception.
But Jonathan Sexton and his teammates are not there to play the foil.
Saturday, they demonstrated mastery and efficiency to eliminate the English Exeter (22-34), on their lawn, after a match of rare intensity.
They logically assert themselves as the most serious contenders for the European title.
Recent winners of the Pro 14 (ex-Celtic League), the Dubliners will try to become the first team to win a fifth continental crown, after those of 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018. Only one team can also achieve such a feat: the Stadium Toulousain (crowned in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010) still in contention after his victory in Clermont.
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The Leinster made Exeter bend and joined the last square
Matsuyama makes history
With a total score of 278 (-10) and a final card of 73 (+1), Hideki Matsuyama enters history at 29 by offering his country a first Major in men's golf.
His 65 (-7) on Saturday gave him a four-stroke lead at the dawn of the last lap.
His 73 (+1) on Sunday was less flamboyant but sufficient.
He also took advantage of the slack periods of his closest competitors such as Marc Leishman, Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, which disappointed on Sunday.
Hideki Matsuyama is enjoying himself in Augusta.
In ten appearances, he only missed the cut once.
His best result remained a 5th place in 2015. In 2011 as an amateur after having pocketed the first of his two Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, he had already been in the spotlight by receiving the silver medal awarded to the best amateur. at 19 for his beautiful 27th place.
He turned professional in 2013, just before his 20th birthday, he cannot swim, speaks poor English but is definitely good at golf.
Rating: 8/10
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Masters: Matsuyama new emperor of Augusta
Karim Benzema guides Real in the Clasico
Score: 8/10
As very often this season, Real Madrid relied on Karim Benzema.
On the occasion of the Clasico on Saturday night (2-1), it was the French center forward who launched his own against the Barcelona rival.
And how !
With a subtle "Madjer", the Madrid captain came to open the scoring with class to score his 9th goal in the last 7 La Liga matches.
If the Merengues and Zinédine Zidane are still in the game at the dawn of the final sprint, they owe Benzema a debt, in the form of his life.
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Real Madrid and its magician Benzema bend Barça and take the lead in La Liga
Leeds de Bielsa's big shot
Score: 7/10
Marcelo Bielsa who had never beaten Pep Guardiola?
Old history, after the surprising success of Leeds United on the lawn of Manchester City on Saturday (2-1).
Blame it on the Swiss Army Knife Stuart Dallas and his ruthless double.
But above all to a plan cleverly led by the Argentine technician, who works miracles at the head of a workforce taken over in the soft underbelly of the second division.
Back in the first half of the table, Leeds has (almost) already ensured its retention in the elite.
And if this unexpected victory has everything the perfect heist (29 shots to 2, Leeds outnumbered for a half), it says a lot about the Bielsa effect at the head of the Whites.
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The quack of Manchester City beaten by Leeds de Bielsa
Flops
Disillusioned and uncontrollable pair
Score: 1/10
Benoît Paire's score and record in 2021. A victory in 10 matches this season and behavior that turns to ridicule.
Beaten 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5) by Australian Jordan Thompson (62nd) in the 1st round in Monte-Carlo, the French (33rd worldwide) has, once again , expressed his exasperation.
The accumulation of defeats, the downward spiral, the constraints linked to the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be enough to excuse the repeated slippages of a disillusioned player who has become uncontrollable: "I don't give a damn (...) brings me nothing more happy.
To be here is an absolute sadness whereas usually it is the best tournament in the world ... So, frankly, nothing to give a fuck. "
Sermonized by Gilles Moretton, the president of the French Federation, the Avigonnais had apologized to the ethics committee of the FFT after his latest blunders.
A contrition that has remained a dead letter.
The dyke of decorum gave way again, his demons having prevailed after another setback to float the image and degraded credit of an overwhelmed player who should take a break rather than expose his excesses and limitations. .
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Pair:" Playing in such cemeteries, it depresses me a little "
Lionel Messi does not hit the mark against Real
Score: 3/10
In seven shots against Real Madrid, the Barça captain did not find the fault against Real Madrid on Saturday night (1-2).
Seven is also and above all the number of Clasico without a goal in a row for the Argentine.
599 minutes without scoring against his rival, his longest career shortage.
Sign of an inevitable decline, for the one who was perhaps playing his last duel with Real, while he still has not protected in his club forever?
One thing is certain, when nothing goes for Messi, nothing goes for his Barça.
And it's the specter of a second straight white season that hangs over Camp Nou.
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" Epic leader "," Magical Benzema ": the Madrid press hails the victory of Real Madrid in the Clasico
Monfils (again) makes his comeback
Note: 3/10
His elimination in the first round of the Australian Open against the young Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (75th world) remains as the last memory of Gaël Monfils on a tennis court.
And we have to go back a year earlier to find traces of victories for “La Monf '”, then prodigious at the start of 2020 (winner of the Rotterdam and Montpellier tournaments).
In Melbourne, the Ile-de-France had appeared tried before bursting into tears in front of his "nightmare."
Expected at the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, the 34-year-old Parisian will have to wait to resume competition.
In question, a calf injury which will prevent him from holding his rank (13th in the world).
"However, I remain positive and optimistic for the future and will start today on a specific treatment protocol to return as quickly as possible", he confides on his social networks.
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Gaël Monfils, again at a standstill
Dijon, a spicy record
Note: 1/20
Tour simply historic.
By losing in Monaco this Sunday (3-0), Dijon equaled a record almost 90 years old.
The setback suffered against the Monegasques sealed the twelfth consecutive defeat of the Burgundians in the league.
A black series that only CA Paris had produced during the season… 1933-1934.
If many formations have touched this sad total in recent seasons, none of them had aligned the crucial twelfth game without a win.
The Nice reception next Sunday could be historic.
In the event of another defeat, the DFCO would be the new holder of a very gloomy record.
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Ligue 1: Monaco still attack
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The sport program of the week
