Montpellier wins the French Cup for the 15th time by beating Nantes…
Mathieu Warnier, Media365: published on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 9:35 pm
Montpellier secured their 15th French Cup title with a 27-24 victory over Nantes at the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy. The reigning champions did not want to let go of the trophy after a successful penalty shootout win against PSG last year. The match was tense from the start, with both teams exchanging blows. Montpellier took the lead after seven minutes, and despite Nantes’ efforts to stay in the game, they struggled with disciplinary issues, allowing Montpellier to build a lead.
Nantes faced further challenges when Romain Lagarde received a red card, leaving them a player short. Montpellier extended their lead to four goals with just over ten minutes left in the first half. Nantes managed to reduce the deficit to one goal before halftime, but Montpellier responded with three quick goals to restore their lead. The first half ended with Montpellier ahead by four goals.
Despite a brief comeback from Nantes in the second half, Montpellier maintained a comfortable lead throughout the game. The final score was 27-24 in favor of Montpellier, who retained the French Cup. The victory kick-started a crucial period for Montpellier, who have secured third place in the league and a spot in the Champions League, as well as a place in the European League Final Four. Meanwhile, Nantes will have to recover quickly from this defeat as they face PSG in the French championship title match on Wednesday.
