Rugby - Champions Cup. Against Toulouse, Bordeaux-Bègles faces a double glass ceiling

It's not yet a bête noire, but the destroyer of dreams when trophies are within reach. As they approach this European Cup semi-final, the second in their history, the Bordeaux team inevitably have two painful memories that arise. Their first semi-final in the competition, against Ugo Mola's players, already, in 2021: a 21-9 defeat against a team more comfortable in difficult playing conditions, which had put the Dupont generation on the road to its first continental title. And then, three years and three titles later for the Red and Black, this final for the Bouclier de Brennus, last June: a 59-3 rout . A much deeper scar.

Certainly, the Girondins took a little revenge by winning in Toulouse (16-12) at the start of the season before winning by giving themselves a scare against the Toulouse reserve team (32-24) in the 6 Nations. But it is indeed a victory this Sunday, at the Bordeaux Atlantique stadium, armada against armada, which will make Bordeaux forget the injuries of the past... and will open the road to a first club title for all its talents. "It's logical that Stade Toulousain is favored by the predictions," acknowledged Bordeaux manager Yannick Bru. "We know the opponent we're facing, the domination they exert over the Top 14 [ Toulouse is leader with a 10-point lead over UBB]."

"Toulouse has experience in this type of match, but Bordeaux, for the past two or three years, has been a team that is gaining in skills, has had convincing results, and is developing a rugby style similar to that of Stade Toulousain," underlines Xavier Garbajosa , consultant for beIN Sports, commentating on the match this Sunday.

Union Bordeaux-Bègles, taken over by Yannick Bru in the summer of 2023, has been attracting all lovers of this sport for two seasons, carried by a 100% international back line, the famous "patrouille de France", guided by one of the best strikers in the world (Jalibert) and armed with the two most in-form wingers on the planet (Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud). "The Bordeaux team is very strong and effective on turnovers , counter-attacking balls, and has scored tries like that against Ulster and Munster after putting on a lot of defensive pressure," continues Xavier Garbajosa.

It will take at least that much to get the measure of the reigning French champions, certainly much more approachable than last season, but still carried by the aura of their club with a European culture without equal in France. Having been battered in the quarter-finals in Toulon , the title holders gave themselves a scare, saved by a penalty from Thomas Ramos (forfeited for this match) at the siren.

But they have once again proven how uncompromising they are when they cross paths with their compatriots on European roads. Aside from Brive in 1998—a different era—none of the 16 French teams that have faced them in the European Cup finals have eliminated them. The challenge is immense for the Bordeaux side, who must both write their own history while freeing themselves from the influence of France's most successful club.