Ligue Des Opens More Sport : Preview – Clermont  saison 5

Season 5 of the Ligue des Opens More Sport continues. The next stage will take place in Clermont-Ferrand on January 17 and 18 at the Coubertin pool. With only five days to go before the start of the penultimate 6v6 round, it’s time to look at the state of the competition, starting with the stakes in Pool A.

In this pool, which features five teams in Clermont (Fontenay, Dinan, Moirans, La Relève Homme, and La Rochelle), La Rochelle currently holds first place after playing two stages. They are followed by Fontenay with 23 points and Dinan with 19 points to complete the provisional top three.

Fontenay 

Fontenay’s first weekend of competition was flawless: no losses and only five goals conceded. The team is more prepared than ever, asserting their status as league favorites and bouncing back after a shaky start in the French Championship. Any concerns were quickly dismissed as Fontenay dominated the weekend. Only Dinan managed to challenge them during the first day, securing a 2-2 draw. For this upcoming weekend, we hope to see a repeat of the high intensity shown in Montluçon, and perhaps a rematch between Fontenay and Dinan

Dinan 

After Stage 2 in Montluçon, Dinan reached 3rd place in the general standings and 2nd place in the tournament itself, losing in the final to a very sharp Fontenay side. Despite a solid performance overall, they suffered two setbacks on the first day: a 1-0 loss to the defending champions, Pessac, and a 2-1 defeat against La Relève Homme. These struggles were largely due to the absence of their « Dream Team. » The squad needed time to adjust before seeking revenge against both teams on the second day. A strong comeback is expected now with the return of Edouard Crolotte and the Englishman Rupert Ironside-Smith. These major reinforcements should definitely shake up the top of the podium.

Moirans 

On the other hand, the last stage left a bitter taste for Moirans. Their 6th-place finish doesn’t reflect their true level, especially for a team that finished 3rd overall last year. This drop is surprising, considering they went toe-to-toe with Fontenay in the French Championship bronze medal match. It should be noted that there was a difference in the roster between Round 1 (D1) and the league: Moirans had two U19 players in their ranks, which may explain this result. Their weekend was filled with frustrating moments, including a narrow 3-2 loss to Pessac and a Sunday morning defeat against Pontoise that knocked them out of the semi-finals.

Relève Homme 

The competition is tough, but not unbeatable, for La Relève Homme. Made up of contenders for the 2026 Youth World Championships in Turkey, the Ligue des Opens More Sport is the perfect training ground. Facing high-caliber opponents forces them to keep improving. Despite the high level, this developing team showed great promise, notably surprising Dinan with a 2-1 win on Saturday in Montluçon—a key performance to build on for the rest of the league and the road to Turkey.

La Rochelle

With one extra stage played, La Rochelle has climbed to the top of the podium, just nine points ahead of Fontenay. However, the team has no illusions: they are more likely to drop in the standings than to keep the lead after January 18. Compared to the French Championship, La Rochelle’s goal is to survive in a very tough Pool A. Facing top-tier D1 teams, they deserve credit for their ability to compete and progress at this level.

With Fontenay showing their strength and Dinan hungry for revenge, this Clermont-Ferrand stage promises to be a decisive turning point. The current hierarchy, led by a vulnerable La Rochelle, could very well be shattered by the favorites.