LIVESTREAM France: Cannes Iron Mask @ Marseille Blue Stars, May 3, 20:00 CET (8 pm, 2 pm EDT).

AFI | American Football | 05/03/2025

The Marseille Blue Stars (5-3-1) host the Cannes Iron Mask (7-1-1) in a French D1 Elite showdown laden with tension. For Marseille, victory is non-negotiable to keep playoff hopes alive; a loss ends their season. Cannes, already semifinal-bound, approach this final regular-season clash with freedom.

Blue Stars’ defensive resolve tested
Marseille’s playoff fate hinges on their league-leading defense, which has anchored narrow wins but faltered in last week’s 26-24 loss to Aix-en-Provence. Facing Cannes’ dominant ground game—led by RBs Yanis Polin (978 yards/20 TDs) and Phileas Pasqulini—the unit must rediscover its early-season rigidity to survive.

Iron Mask’s relentless ground game
Cannes averages 185 rushing yards per game, leveraging Polin’s power and Pasqulini’s agility to wear down opponents. Their offensive line’s dominance could exploit Marseille’s recent vulnerabilities, though complacency risks lingering after securing semifinal status.

Legacy on the line
This clash pits Marseille’s defensive discipline against Cannes’ brute-force attack. For the Blue Stars, it’s a last stand; for the Iron Mask, a tune-up for title contention. One team fights for survival, the other for momentum—a fitting end to D1’s regular season drama.