A ninth title for the Parisians!

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The Parisians faced MHB in Liqui Moly StarLigue action.

On Friday night at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Paris Saint-Germain Handball played host to Montpellier in Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 25 action. The objective: to continue their fantastic run with a 25th consecutive victory - which would clinch an historic ninth title! Facing them were a Montpellier side yet to clinch a place in Europe next season but boasting the division's best defence (669 goals conceded). But the Parisians, with the best attack in the StarLigue (874 units), also had plenty going for them.

Montpellier have worked hard to earn their status as the tightest defense in the championship, and Parisians crashed hard into the Montpellier rear-guard in the early stages. The MHB were on top in defence and made the Parisians pay. They quickly took a three-goal lead (2-5). Well muzzled by the Montpellier defence, the Parisians struggled to impose their game and went as much as five goals behind (20': 11-16).

Thanks to the tireless encouragement of the Parisian Ultras - as well as a Luc Steins starting to hit his straps - Paris Saint-Germain Handball got back into the game (19': 11-14). In defence, Paris Saint-Germain woke up, with Yann Genty making three saves in a row, including one from a penalty. Just before the break - and on a buzzer-beating shot from nine meters out - Elohim Prandi struck to put his side level with the visitors at half-time (30': 18-18).

Thanks to successive goals from Mathieu Grébille, the Parisians started the second half perfectly and took the lead for the first time in the match (32': 20-18). On the counter-attack, Paris were quicker and sharper, and Benoît Kounkoud came off the bench and scored his first goal of the game. The balance of power was reversed, and the Parisians dictated the game. Everything they tried came off and captain Luka Karabatic notably bagged his first goal of the game (35': 23-19).

Luc maintained his control on the game and clocked an almost perfect record of 8 goals from 9 attempts. In the last ten minutes, Paris kept the MHB at a distance. Yann Genty's seventh save and Elohim Prandi's 500th league goal in the league made things easier for the Parisians with six minutes left to play (54': 34 - 29).

Paris held out in the final stages, with the whole arena on its feet because they knew Paris were going to be crowned Champions of France. Then the final buzzer sounded and the room exploded: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN ARE CHAMPIONS (60': 37-33)!

 

(Credits: A. Gadoffre/Team Pics/PSG)