Everything you need to know about PSG Handball - Porto

News

After returning to league duties last weekend against Chartres (39-25), Paris Saint-german Handball resume their EHF Champions League campaign at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Thursday. More than a month after their last European fixture on home turf, in its home ground, Paris Saint-Germain Handball play host to Porto for their Matchday 7 clash.

The table
After six games, both teams have five points from two wins, one draw and three defeats. Les Rouge et Bleu have had a difficult start to their campaign, already facing Veszprém (34-31), Flensburg (27-27), Barcelona (30-27) and Kielce (38-33). Although they have not yet been successful away from home, they have been unstoppable at Coubertin, with good wins against Dinamo Bucharest (41-30) and Zaporozhye (40-32).

The Portuguese, on the other hand, have had a rollercoaster ride. They were beaten in Zaporozhye (30-27), but they managed to beat Flensburg (28-27), and also to hold Barcelona in check in their last match (33-33).

'Keepers face off...
On Thursday, we should see a spectacular duel between goalkeepers who have been in good form all season. Porto's goalkeeper is Nikola Mitrevski. The Macedonian (who will be up against his former coach, Raul Gonzalez) is used to making all kinds of saves and already has 41 to his name this season this season, including 14 against Veszprém (23-30).

Vincent Gérard, meanwhile, has been racking up accolades, with three appearances in the Top Saves - against Zaporozhye, Barcelona and Kielce. The French international has stopped 63 shots in six appearances! 

... as do the goalscorers
Mikkel Hansen is the most prolific scorer in the league, and our left-back is the third-most prolific scorer in the Champions League, with 39 goals (only one ahead of Dika Mem and Timur Dibirov). For Porto, Victor Iturriza (25 goals) and Antonio Areia (23) stand out the most. This duo, along with Ivan Sliskovic (19 goals), were the main architects of the point they earned against Barcelona, with 18 goals between them.

Head to head
Last season, Paris and Porto were in the same group. Our team won twice, against a team that battled hard on both occasions, first in Portugal (31-34), then at Coubertin (29-28). In 2007, the sides faced each other in the third round of the European Cup. Porto were beaten in the first leg by seven points (30-23), but almost turned the tables in the second leg (26-20). At that time, Patrice Annonay, Kevynn Nyokas, Cedric Sorhaindo, Nicolas Claire and Said Ouksir (currently the club's physical trainer) were wearing the Parisian colours.

To follow the match (kick-off at 20:45):
- From the stands of Coubertin: by getting your tickets on our official website
- Television: Eurosport 2
- Our social networks: via our live-tweet

(Credits: A. Gadoffre/TeamPics/PSG)