Preview: Dijon - PSG Handball

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After punching their ticket for the Coupe de la Ligue Final4 in midweek, Paris Saint-Germain Handball continue their cup week on Sunday when they begin their Coupe de France title defence away to Dijon.

In the race for the play-offs

Last season, Dijon long harboured ambitions of winning promotion to France's top flight, but in the end they finished the regular season in third and then fell at the semi-final stage of the play-offs following a pair of draws against Pontault-Combault (25-25; 26-26). This season, while direct promotion seems unlikely (they trail Chartres by six points), they are well placed for a spot in the play-offs as they currently sit in fifth on the Prologue table. Inconsistency has cost them a draw and four defeats in 12 matches.

Front line firing

One of Ulrich Chaduteaud's side's biggest strengths is its attack. With 344 goals scored since the beginning of the campaign (an average of 28 per match), they boast the competition's fifth-best attacking record. These offensive stats come due in no small part to 29-year-old left-back Pierrick Naudin who, with 71 goals, is the club's top scorer - a status he already knows well after out-firing his teammates with 171 goals in season 2017-18. At the other end of the court, the main man is Tunisian international 'keeper Wassim Helal, who had made an impressive 106 saves in 12 matches so far this season.

The previous round

In the round of 64, DMHB travelled to Nationale 2 outfit Bourgoin Jallieu. Helal once again turned in an impressive performance, making 11 saves, while Ukrainian right-back Oleg Macharashvili bagged a five-goal haul. Pierrick Naudin's brothers, twins Paul and Hugo, also fired, striking three and four times respectively to help Dijon to a big win (27-38) that set them up for this round of 32 clash with Paris Saint-Germain Handball.

Reigning champs
Last season, Dijon's cup adventure only went as far as the round of 64, when they lost away to Sarrebourg, who at the time played their handball in the Nationale 1. Meanwhile, Les Rouge et Bleu went all the way last season, trumping Nîmes 26-32 in an epic final at the AccorHotel Arena to claim the fourth Coupe de France title in the club's history. On Sunday afternoon, they will put their title on the line as the make their entry in to the competition at the round of 32 stage.

To follow the match (throw-off at 15:00)

• Television: Not broadcast

• Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)