The European Cup final on Sunday in Germany will be welcomed by Nîmes-Montpellier on the grounds of Saarbrücken.
Félix and Alexis Lebrun have successfully completed the first part of the job, and each thing in its own time because the second will be terribly difficult. With their club Nîmes-Montpellier, they eliminated Fortuna Düsseldorf in the Champions League semi-finals on Saturday, in the Final Four in Saarbrücken (3-1). Alexis Lebrun first easily won the first match against Dang Qiu (11-5, 11-8, 11-8) and according to him, “it was important, it boosted Félix’s confidence” (Midi Libre). Félix then skillfully tightened the game for the second match, more difficult against Anton Källberg (11-9, 16-14, 11-8). These first two points allowed them to absorb the defeat of their Indian teammate Manav Thakar against Kanak Jha (11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9) and Félix Lebrun then finished the job against Dang Qiu… with a new 16-14 from the first set (16-14, 11-5, 11-8).
“Düsseldorf is a great European club, we lost against them last year with the same team composition, and now we managed to turn the situation around.” It was in the quarter-finals. One year later, Félix Lebrun is “super happy to play Saarbrücken in the final, it will take a huge feat and we will give everything”. Facing the host represented by Fan Zhendong, Truls Moregaard, and Patrick Franziska, the challenge ahead is indeed immense.
“When we see their four players, it’s a real ‘dream team’ with the two finalists of Paris 2024,” confirms coach Vincent Avril. “We know it’s going to be extremely difficult. But from what I see from my guys, from the level they have, from the desire surrounding the team, I believe in it and dream of it. We will give everything for it.” The Lebrun brothers, before returning to the French Pro A Championship from Tuesday (return semifinals against Hennebont, 3-1 victory for Simon Gauzy’s Bretons in the first leg), have the opportunity to write another page of their already rich legend.
Context: The Lebrun brothers have advanced to the final of the European Champions League with their club Nîmes-Montpellier. Fact Check: The article is discussing a table tennis match and the achievements of Félix and Alexis Lebrun in the Champions League.
