Brilliant Paris make it back-to-back wins

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On Tuesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball Lidl StarLigue Round 3 action in the south of France, up against a Saint-Raphaël side coming off consecutive draws to Cesson-Rennes and Ivry.

Although Les Rouge et Bleu were favourites heading into this first road game of the league season, Saint-Raphaël are never easy to manoeuvre -especially on home turf. In fact, the side form the Var region were the last team to beat the capital club in the Lidl StarLigue, prevailing in June 2019. Parisian right-winger Ferran Solé was well aware that the task would not be an easy one.

As was the case in their clash with Cesson (39-21), the Parisians got off to an excellent start! The first to distinguish himself was none other than Kamil Syprzak. Perfectly played in to shoot, our pivot won all his one-on-ones with home 'keeper Alexandre Demaille to carve out the first lead of the match.

Decidedly in form, the Polish international succeeds in everything he tries. A few moments later, it was he again who increased the Parisian lead a little more.

And it kept on growing! Solid defensively, Raul Gonzalez's men left the locals very few shooting opportunities. While the Parisian goal tally doubled, Saint-Raphaël struggled against the Parisian rear-guard and couldn't keep pace (22': 9-17).

After a final push led by counter-attackers Nikola Karabatic and Nedim Remili - but also by 'keeper Vincent Gérard - Paris Saint-Germain Handball amassed a healthy lead at the break.

Kamil Syprzak, determined to put the nail in the coffin as soon as the match restarted, repeated his first-half form with an early goal (32': 10-23). On the wing, Matthieu Grébille added his personal cherry to an already beautiful cake by finding the back of the net to mark his 29th birthday (34': 11-25).

The minutes ticked down and the outcome of the meeting no longer seemed to be in doubt (43': 14-31). That was the moment that Raul chose to bring in Loïck Spady. Usually goalkeeper for the reserve team, Spady stepped up to make his first appearance with the senior team in the Lidl StarLigue.

Accompanied by other youth academy graduates (Dylan Nahi, Adama Keita, Benoît Kounkoud and Sadou Ntanzi), the 20-year-old 'keeper shone with some accomplished saves (56': 21-36). Moments later, Paris Saint-Germain Handball were confirmed as runaway winners!

Paris clinched a third win in as many Lidl StarLigue matches, with 110 goals scored and only 52 conceded. They will try to confirm this momentum on Friday, against Toulouse, in Lidl StarLigue Round 4 action.

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)