On Thursday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball play their all-important final 2021-2022 EHF Champions League group stage match, playing host to Hungarian giants Veszprém at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin.
THE TABLE
Even before the final match of this group phase, Veszprém were assured of finishing in fourth place. Indeed, with a four-point lead over the fifth-placed team and a three-point deficit behind the top three, the Hungarians can no longer move from their position. They also know their opponent for the round of 16: Vardar Skopje, who are certain to finish fifth in Group A.
With one round to go, there is still a lot to be decided. This is the road to the #ehffinal4 🏆
— EHF Champions League (@ehfcl) March 4, 2022
Do you dare to predict which 4 teams will be in Cologne? 🤔✍️ pic.twitter.com/dpPM0ItJvt
Although they don't have their fate in their own hands, Les Rouge et Bleu must win. Before the start of Matchday 14, three teams - Paris, Kielce and Barcelona - are tied on 18 points. Only the top two will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the third team will have to go through the round of 16. In the event of a tie at the end of the group stage, a ranking will be made among the teams concerned, taking head-to-head results into account. In this case, Kielce would have six points, Barcelona would be second and our team third with the same number of points as the Blaugrana, but with an aggregate goal disadvantage. If the Poles win against Bucharest on Wednesday night and the Spaniards do the same against Flensburg on Thursday afternoon, the fate of Group B will be sealed.
THE RETURN OF RODRIGO
A Parisian for three seasons, Rodrigo Corrales left the French capital in the summer of 2020 to join Veszprém. For the first time since his departure, our former goalkeeper will make his return to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. With Les Rouge et Bleu, the Spanish international won three French league titles, two Coupe de la Ligue and one Coupe de France.
A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST LEG
As is often the case between these two teams, the first leg of the tie lived up to all its promise. Raul Gonzalez's side travelled to the Veszprém Arena in the first leg and played a very good first half. At the break, after a final goal at the buzzer by Luc Steins, they were leading by four points (30': 13-17). The second half proved to be more complicated, however, and it was the home team who took the lead in the final moments (34-31).
HEAD TO HEAD
In the history of European handball, there have been several notable meetings between Paris and Veszprém - and several of them have gone in favour of our team. In November 2016, Uwe Gensheimer scored a buzzer-beater to end the Hungarians' lengthy unbeaten run in their home arena (28-29). The same year, our team also prevailed over Veszprém the semi-final of the Final4, after an epic match (26-27). There was also the victory in 2017, obtained thanks to six goals in ten minutes from Edouard Kempf (33-28). Of the 13 direct Champions League encounters, Paris have won seven, drawn one and lost five.
TO FOLLOW THE MATCH (THROW-OFF AT 20:45):
- From the Coubertin stands: by buying your tickets on our official website
- Television: Eurosport Player
- Our social networks: via our live-tweet
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(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)