Dembélé Hits Back at Mbappé Over 'Chosen One' Remark
Without naming him, Ousmane Dembélé responded to Kylian Mbappé's Ballon d'Or comments, saying he worked hard and was rewarded last year for his PSG form.
Cricket team
Saintes
Club · France · Proligue
«Les Fox»
24
Matches
8
wins
1
draw
15
losses
727–750
Goals
−23
Difference
30.3
Scored per game
Form
L
17 Apr · Away Massy Essonne HB · 31:36
W
24 Apr · Home Valence · 30:24
L
3 May · Away Ivry · 33:37
L
30 Aug · Home Cesson-Rennes Métropole · 23:31
W
4 Sep · Home Massy Essonne HB · 27:26
L
11 Sep · Away Pau Billere · 28:31
Nothing in Saintes's history reads like 2024, when the club lifted the Coupe de France Fédérale, a trophy that had eluded the handball side in Charente-Maritime. A year later came a run that should have crowned it properly: US Saintes topped the Nationale 1 Fédérale elite pool in 2024-2025 and reached the championship final. The French Handball Federation then ruled the match lost on the pitch. The club appealed the DNCG's refusal to promote it anyway, and takes its place in ProLigue for 2025-2026 regardless of what the final scoreline says on paper.
The club traces back to 1965, when François Robin founded it as a non-profit association under the 1901 law. Progress up the divisions came in stages rather than one leap: Nationale 2 in 1993 opened the door to Division 2, and it took until 2007, with the Nationale 1 title, to reach the top flight for the first time.
Nicolas Pavillard spent thirteen seasons in the Saintes goal, while Franck Maurice's five years on the court between 2008 and 2013 later fed into a coaching career.
Latest results
All matches| 11 Sep | Proligue |
Pau Billere
A
|
28:31 | L |
| 4 Sep | Proligue |
Massy Essonne HB
H
|
27:26 | W |
| 30 Aug | Coupe de France |
Cesson-Rennes Métropole
H
|
23:31 | L |
| 3 May | Proligue |
Ivry
A
|
33:37 | L |
| 24 Apr | Proligue |
Valence
H
|
30:24 | W |
| 17 Apr | Proligue |
Massy Essonne HB
A
|
31:36 | L |
Standing
Proligue| # | Team | M | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |
 Besançon
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:55 | 2 |
| 8 |
Valence
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:65 | 2 |
| 9 |
Saintes
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:57 | 2 |
| 10 |
 Draguignan Var
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:63 | 2 |
| 11 |
 Dijon
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:61 | 2 |
Team statistics
matches counted: 24
24
Matches
8
wins
1
draw
15
losses
727–750
Goals
−23
Difference
30.3
Scored per game
wins
draw
losses
scored — above the line
conceded — below the line
| Metric | Total | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| Scored | 727 | 406 | 321 |
| Conceded | 750 | 420 | 330 |
| Scored per game | 30.3 | 31.2 | 29.2 |
| Conceded per game | 31.2 | 32.3 | 30.0 |
| Difference | −23 | −14 | −9 |
Fixtures of Saintes
-
18 Sep · 19:30
Cournon d'Auvergne
H
Proligue
-
25 Sep · 19:30
Besançon
H
Proligue
-
11 Sep
Pau Billere
A
28:31
L
-
4 Sep
Massy Essonne HB
H
27:26
W
-
30 Aug
Cesson-Rennes Métropole
H
23:31
L
-
3 May
Ivry
A
33:37
L
-
24 Apr
Valence
H
30:24
W
-
17 Apr
Massy Essonne HB
A
31:36
L
-
14 Apr
Pontault-Combault Handball
A
28:35
L
-
10 Apr
Saran Loiret Handball
H
37:41
L
Honours of Saintes
- Championnat de France Nationale 1 2007 1
- Championnat de France Nationale 2 1993 1
- Coupe de France Fédérale 2024 1
- Challenge de France 1985 1
- Championnat de France Nationale 1 2003 1
Team news
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Achraf Hakimi injured in PSG win over Brest
The Morocco right-back was subbed off with an adductor injury after 37 minutes as PSG led Brest 1-0, with scans set to reveal the damage.
Ipswich stun 10-man Palace with late win at Selhurst Park
Zian Flemming's 90th-minute strike completed a comeback as Ipswich beat 10-man Crystal Palace 3-2, ending a 32-game run without winning after conceding first.
Mbappé Hits Back at Viral 'Dictator' Memes
The Real Madrid forward says AI memes comparing him to dictators reveal a lack of political and human awareness, though he laughs off Dembélé's 'Mobut' nickname.
Jurrien Timber nears Arsenal return for Sunderland trip
Mikel Arteta says Timber has trained all week and could feature at Sunderland, while Mosquera remains a doubt after missing the last two games.
Barcola Cleared to Face Fulham After Injury Scare
Andoni Iraola confirmed Bradley Barcola avoided injury after going off with cramp in Liverpool's Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, easing France squad fears.
Pochettino: Give Tottenham the 2016-17 Title
Pochettino says Chelsea's admitted rule breaches over agent payments should have stripped them of the 2016-17 Premier League crown, not just a fine.