The final of the 2025 French Men’s Water Polo League is set: defending champions Marseille will face off against Pays d’Aix in a highly anticipated championship series. Both teams earned their place in the final through strong performances in the playoff semifinals, though their paths to the title clash were markedly different.
Marseille Dominates Montpellier to Reach Another Final
Marseille, the reigning French champions, made quick work of Montpellier in their best-of-three semifinal series. With two decisive victories, they extended their unbeaten run and booked a spot in the final for the fifth consecutive season.
- Game 1: Montpellier 7–16 Marseille
(Quarters: 1–5, 1–4, 2–5, 3–2) - Game 2: Marseille 18–7 Montpellier
(Quarters: 5–2, 5–3, 4–0, 4–2)
Alexandre Bouet was the standout performer, scoring seven goals in the first match and four in the second. Thomas Vernoux also played a key role, contributing eight goals across the two games. The team’s dominance was evident, with a combined 35:14 goal difference across both matches.
Marseille now eyes its fifth consecutive national title and a record-extending 42nd French championship.
Pays d’Aix Edges Strasbourg in a Thrilling Three-Game Series
Unlike Marseille’s straightforward path, Pays d’Aix battled through a tense three-game series against a resilient Strasbourg side to reach the final for the second time in the club’s history. Their only previous appearance came in 2019, when they finished as runners-up.
Game 1: Strasbourg Takes Early Control
- Strasbourg 14–11 Pays d’Aix
(Quarters: 6–2, 2–0, 3–3, 3–6)
Strasbourg stormed to an 8:2 halftime lead and maintained their advantage to win the opener. Steven Vitrant led with four goals, and Vlado Popadic added three. Khasz and Bertran both netted hat-tricks for Pays d’Aix.
Game 2: Watanabe Delivers in a Nail-Biter
- Pays d’Aix 11–10 Strasbourg
(Quarters: 2–2, 3–4, 3–2, 3–2)
Playing in front of their home fans, Aix evened the series thanks to a last-minute penalty goal from Taiyo Watanabe, who scored the match-winner with 51 seconds remaining.
Game 3: A Comeback for the Ages
- Pays d’Aix 15–14 Strasbourg
(Quarters: 3–4, 3–5, 3–4, 6–1)
The final match was a rollercoaster. Strasbourg led 12:8 entering the fourth period and looked poised for the win. But Pays d’Aix staged a remarkable comeback, outscoring Strasbourg 7:2 in the final quarter. Tom Beteille equalized at 14:14, and once again it was Taiyo Watanabe who delivered in the clutch, scoring the decisive goal during a 6-on-5 play in the 31st minute.
Watanabe finished the match with seven goals, while Strasbourg’s Popadic also scored seven and Marko Petkovic added five.
Final Schedule: Marseille vs Pays d’Aix
The 2024 French League final will be played in a best-of-three format:
- Game 1: May 17 – Pays d’Aix (Home)
- Game 2: Marseille (Date TBC)
- Game 3 (if necessary): Marseille (Date TBC)
Looking Ahead
- Marseille enters the final as the heavy favorite, bolstered by their impressive record and dominant semifinal form.
- Pays d’Aix, however, has momentum and the resilience of a team that knows how to fight back from adversity.
- With players like Taiyo Watanabe and Alexandre Bouet in top form, the final promises to deliver high-intensity water polo action.
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