PSG dreaming of club treble as another French league title beckons

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain remains on course for a historic club treble after reaching the Champions League semifinals this week.

Kylian Mbappé and his teammates can dream of playing the final at Wembley Stadium on June 1. Mbappé can imagine himself climbing the long stairs before raising aloft Europe's premier club trophy for the first time since PSG's foundation in 1970, in what would effectively be his last game before leaving the club.

“Of course I want to win the Champions League with PSG," Mbappé said after PSG knocked out Barcelona in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. “We have a great side and we’ll do all we can to get to Wembley.”

But before scaling such heights, there are domestic matters to take care of.

Starting with clinching a record-extending 12th French title.

PSG has a 10-point lead and can take a step closer to the title on Sunday with a home win against Lyon at Parc des Princes. But it will face a Lyon team full of confidence under coach Pierre Sage, one of the success stories of the season along with Brest.

Sage took charge only on an interim basis in December, but the club hierarchy liked what they saw and soon appointed him full-time. Sage, which translates as “Wise” in English, has led a remarkable charge up the league table with 11 wins in 17 games.

Instead of fretting over relegation as it did in bleak late autumn, Lyon sits in a sunnier seventh place and within three points of Nice in fifth spot.

The softly spoken Sage has relied on veteran striker Alexandre Lacazette, who is third in the league scoring charts with 15, while former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has proved an excellent midseason signing from Rennes. Matic's arrival has helped former France midfielder Corentin Tolisso regain his form, and Tolisso scored a well-taken goal in last Sunday's 4-3 win against Brest.

Lyon can't halt PSG's march to another title, because only a dramatic PSG collapse can do that, but it can stop PSG from winning another trophy when the sides meet in the French Cup final on May 25.

THREE-WAY FIGHT

The race for second place in the league is tightening. Brest is only one point ahead of third-placed Monaco and four points ahead of fourth-placed Lille. Brest, which has played one game more, hosts Monaco on Sunday before PSG plays. Lille hosts Strasbourg earlier Sunday.

But Monaco's hopes have taken a blow after Aleksandr Golovin injured his ankle in training. The fleet-footed attacking midfielder has been one of Monaco's best players with six goals and six assists.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brest's Martin Satriano, right, challenges Lyon's Corentin Tolisso during a French League One soccer match between Lyon and Brest at the Groupama stadium, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates after his teammate Corentin Tolisso scoring their side's opening goal during a French League One soccer match between Lyon and Brest at the Groupama stadium, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, celebrates with his teammate Achraf Hakimi at the end of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

MADRID (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz's bid to win a third straight Madrid Open title ended with a three-set loss to Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The second-seeded Spaniard got off to a good start but then was outplayed by the seventh-seeded Rublev, losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the Caja Magica center court.

Alcaraz, who had already struggled in a three-set win over Jan-Lennard Struff on Tuesday, looked out of sorts and was mistake-prone toward the end.

It was his first tournament after missing Monte Carlo and Barcelona because of a right forearm injury. The 20-year-old had arrived in Madrid saying he would be happy to play three or four matches in the Spanish capital.

Already in a hole in the third set, Alcaraz pressed the forearm during a stopover. He was wearing a long sleeve over the injured arm.

Alcaraz was trying to become the first player to win the clay-court tournament three straight times. He hadn't lost on Spanish soil since 2021.

Rublev, seeking his second ATP 1000 title after winning Monte Carlo last year, will play either Taylor Fritz or Francisco Cerundolo.

The world No. 8 was solid from the start and overpowered Alcaraz with 30 winners.

“The serve saved me a lot of times today,” Rublev said. “The key was I was completely calm the whole match. I did not say one word, even if I was losing. That was the key and I was able to serve even better near the end. In the beginning, I was not serving that well but little by little, after set one, I served better and better and finished really well.”

RYBAKINA ADVANCES

Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina saved two match points en route to a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 win over Yulia Putintseva to reach the women's semifinals.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion rallied while trailing 5-2 in the third set. She also trailed by an early break in the second set.

Rybakina has won eight matches in a row and has a tour-leading 30-4 record this season. She has 16 straight clay wins and is trying to reach her sixth final of the year.

Rybakina will next face either defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, returns the ball to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, celebrates after winning a match against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, competes against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, returns the ball to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, waves to the crowd after winning a match against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)