Stade Francais Paris took 28-26 victory over USA Perpignan in the Top 14 on Friday evening. The result came on 2026-09-05 when the hosts finished third with 78 points. Perpignan ended the campaign in thirteenth place, 49 points adrift. and here's the thing — such a narrow margin hardly reflected the gulf between them.
The hosts had already secured their position before kickoff. Fifteen wins from twenty-six games kept them clear of trouble. Perpignan's six victories told a different story entirely.
Stade Francais showed flashes of brilliance in their recent string of fixtures. They battered Stade Rochelais 45-5 before a narrow 22-27 defeat to the same side. A 38-21 thrashing of Bayonne and a 73-25 demolition of Montauban suggested attacking intent. Yet that opening loss to Montpellier, 15-25, warned of defensive frailties.
Perpignan's campaign was defined by inconsistency. A 47-24 win over Provence offered hope, but a 7-52 hammering by Bayonne crushed it. The 14-45 defeat to Clermont capped a difficult season.
Our prediction backed the home side with 89 per cent confidence. By then the result felt inevitable rather than surprising. Stade Francais held firm when it mattered.