Disappointment in Montpellier

Match reports

On Saturday night, Paris Saint-Germain Handball played the headline clash of Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 14! They travelled to the Sud de France Arena to challenge Montpellier, with whom they shared the league lead before the match. A mouth-watering prospect, which promised to be spectacular, between the league's best attack (Paris, 456 goals scored) and the tightest defence (Montpellier, 351 goals conceded).

As expected, the beginning of the match was tight (6': 3-3). Even though Les Rouge et Bleu made the first break, thanks to captain Luka Karabatic (10': 4-6), the hosts came back quickly and went two goals to the good (12': 8-6). A the end of the first quarter of the match, the suspense is already unbearable (16': 9-8). 

After this first round, the MHB grew in power, perfectly exploiting every one of Paris' little mistakes to increase the gap (19': 12-10). We needed to adjust some details and Dainis Kristopans took matters in hand! He scored a series of goals and brought his team back to within one point (24': 14-13). And it was him again, after a magnificent kung-fu orchestrated by Luc Steins, who put the two teams back on level terms - right on the buzzer!

After the break, the battle resumed (35': 20-20). Les Rouge et Bleu had several opportunities to take the lead, but fluffed their lines each time (43': 23-23). Thus, with the end of the match approaching, the result was still very much hanging in the balance (47': 24-24). 

Thanks to the efficiency of Ferran Solé Sala, the capital club finally managed to take the lead (49': 25-27). Our players also showed some good defensive qualities, like the one-on-one won by Jannick Green and the save by Luc Steins (52': 26-28). However, this was not enough to win the game (55': 29-29), and Montpellier took the upper hand in the final moments. Paris Saint-Germain Handball thus tasted defeat and saw MHB take sole control of the league standings. Paris will have to bounce back on Wednesday, in their last match of the year!

RAUL GONZALEZ AND DAVID BALAGUER'S REACTIONS:

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)