A great week continues for Paris

Match reports

Three days after clinching top spot in their EHF Champions League group, Paris Saint-Germain Handball returned to Liqui Moly StarLigue action for Round 18 on Sunday. The objective was to get back on level terms with leaders Montpellier and to do so, they had to win, at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, against tough-to-beat Nîmes side.

Les Rouge et Bleu got off to a great start, thanks in particular to an unstoppable Andreas Palicka (4': 3-1). The Swedish international even had the luxury of turning away a 7m throw, which then allowed his attack to add a little more to the score (9': 7-1). Our team found success with everything they tried, be it from placed attacks, counter-attacks or fast engagements. It was thus no surprise that they led by ten goals at the end of the first quarter of an hour (16': 15-5). 

The Parisians maintained the pressure and continued to fire in all sectors, and a record scoreline looked likely (19': 18-6). Our offensive line were ice-cold with their finishing, Ferran Solé Sala leading the way with a 7 from 7 in the first half (26': 22-10). After 30 almost perfect minutes, the capital club returned to the dressing room with a comfortable advantage.

The visitors started the second half with better intentions, but the gap remained considerable (34': 27-16) and they were pushed back on their heels by a counter-attack from David Balaguer and a 7m throw from Kamil Syprak (38': 29-16). Andreas also scored from his own area (42': 31-18). As time passed, the Parisian victory seemed more and more likely (46': 34-20). 

The young Léo Plantin and Gautier Loredon also joined the attacking party (48': 36-23), the former getting on the scoreboard with a successful penalty (54': 38-26). Despite a fight-back from Nîmes at the end of the match (57': 39-31), Paris Saint-Germain Handball clinched yet another league win (41-33) and went into the joint lead of the Liqui Moly StarLigue. For the moment, however, they remain behind Montpellier, on head-to-head goal difference (-1), before the return match scheduled in April. 

(Credits: L. Valroff/Team Pics/PSG)