Football (Pyrénées Cup): A high

On one side, the Bayonnais are unstoppable, with an impressive ten-game winning streak in the championship. On the other side, the Béarnais are losing ground, having been defeated three times in a row and losing their first place position. This sets the stage for an open showdown. More than just the current form of the teams, it’s the context that electrifies this final scheduled for this Friday.

Less than 40 hours later (Sunday at 3 p.m.), both teams will dive back into their respective championships, aiming for promotion. This relentless sequence is creating tension on both sides. “We were given the right to play this final and aim for promotion. In the end, it becomes a weekend of constraints,” sighs Marc Le Moël, the bitter Bayonne coach. “The Pyrenees clubs are not highly regarded in Bordeaux. There was a available date on May 16.”

The Calendar Mix-up

The last two matchdays of the R2 and R3 championships are scheduled for this weekend and on May 23. A fallback date, officially announced by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine League on May 16, could have been considered to allow the Bayonne Croisés to play the final this Friday without being forced to play a crucial match for promotion in Biscarrosse 40 hours later. Even professional players never play two matches with such a short gap!

“At worst, there was also Thursday, May 14, a public holiday, to play in Biscarrosse but it was the Landes club that refused to play on that date,” regrets Marc Le Moël, the Croisés coach. And the problem also arises for Asmur, second with two points and a match behind the leader Arlac. The Béarnais will have to juggle the cup final and a crucial match for promotion to N3 with four matchdays remaining.

Cup or Championship?

Between a staff and management focused on the championship and players tempted by a double, the equation is delicate. However, on the field, intentions should be clear. “These are two offensive-minded teams. But it all depends on the players selected,” warns the Bayonne coach, being realistic. “We are clearly the underdogs.”

In a duel promising goals, the key could be somewhere else. “It will be decided by defensive details,” he insists. A tense final, between ambition, fatigue, and frustration, where every mistake could cost dearly. The last final between the two teams favored Croisés (2023, 1-0) who were already in R2, while Asmur was in R3 at the time.