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A tough final home game of the season

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Paris Saint-Germain Handball lost at home to Nîmes (32-33). We take a look back at the Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 28 clash.

On Sunday afternoon, Paris Saint-Germain Handball played their final match of the season at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin (the final home match will take place at the Accor Arena, against Aix) for Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 28. Although they were unable to secure the league title this weekend (thanks to victory by their nearest chasers Nantes, at Montpellier), Les Rouge et Bleu had the opportunity to take a major step towards another title when they played host to Nîmes. For their part, the Green Team were aiming to close in on the top five.

The game got off to a fairly even start. Neither side took advantage of the other's mistakes to break clear (7': 4-4). For several long minutes, Paris led by a whisker without being able to get clear (11': 7-6). At the end of the first quarter, despite a momentary break in favour of the capital club (13': 9-7), the scoreboard was still deadlocked (16': 10-10).

Despite time-outs from both sides, the match remained level (20': 11-11). The lead changed hands several times, but it never blew out (27': 14-14). At the break, despite a last-ditch attempt by the Parisians, which was ultimately unsuccessful, Les Rouge et Bleu and Les Gardois were still neck and neck (30': 14-14).

The second half picked up where the first had left off (33': 17-17). This time it was the visitors who took the lead (35': 17-18), but like their Parisian counterparts, they were unable to break the deadlock (38': 18-18). Raul Gonzalez's men were able to get back into the game thanks in particular to the power of Elohim Prandi, who reset the scoreboard on several occasions (42': 21-21). The final ten minutes promised to be breathless (45': 23-23).

But as the final minutes approached, Les Rouge et Bleu seemed to have turned the match in their favour thanks to a Luc Steins counter-attack (47': 25-23). Although this was still not enough to clinch victory, our team could now manage their lead, following Elo's 500th league goal in the league for Paris and Kamil Syprzak's 700th goal in France (51' : 27-25). With just a few attacks left, Nîmes exploited every one of our mistakes to keep the game alive (56': 30-29). In the final seconds, it was USAM who took the lead and held onto win by one goal (32-33). Paris Saint-Germain Handball now have a one-point lead over Nantes with two games remaining.

REACTIONS FROM RAUL GONZALEZ, FERRAN SOLE SALA AND JANNICK GREEN:

(Credits: E. Renard/Team Pics/PSG)