After the postponement of their Round 9 clash with Chartres last week, Paris Saint-Germain Handball return to Lidl StarLigue action in their Round 10 clash away to neighbours Créteil on Sunday afternoon.
Another derby
This is the third time that Les Rouge et Bleu will travel to one of their Ile-de-France neighbours (after wins in Ivry, 25-35 and Tremblay, 30-33). It is as Lidl StarLigue leaders (eight victories in as many games) that they travel to a Créteil side who have only been able to play six of their nine matches so far this season (postponements against Nantes, Chartres and Chambéry), for a total of two wins and four defeats. In spite of their having played fewer matches, they are still one point ahead of Ivry in the drop zone.
Quiet achievers
While Pierre Montorier's side may not be the league's most glamorous side, it is nonetheless packed with talent! Take pocket-sized (1m75!) left-winger, Boïba Sissoko, who was notably named Proligue Player of the Year at the end of the 2018-2019 season. In goals, we find a man of experience in the person of Mickaël Robin. The 35-year-old goalkeeper, who has played for Montpellier (where he was twice French Champion) and Barcelona, among others, was named as Lidl Starligue Best Goalkeeper in 2010. We can also add Antoine Ferrandier (club top-scorer with 28 goals) or the former Tremblay and Brazil international Felipe Borges.
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Head-to-head
Historically, the record between the two sides is rather close. However, in recent seasons, Paris Saint-Germain Handball have been doing well and now have 11 wins, three draws and eight defeats against their neighbours. But the capital club's last defeat away to Crétei is relatively recent: just before contesting the first EHF Champions League Final4 in club history, Paris Saint-Germain Handball were narrowly defeated (34-32). That day, Nedim Remili (who didn't take the court) was bidding farewell to the club who youth academy he came up through and Adama Keita was playing his first professional match. Since then, our team have put together a streak of four consecutive league wins over their neighbours.
Key stats
Be it on the European or national scene, the Parisian attack just can't stop scoring! In France, they are the most prolific attacking line in our championship, with 292 goals scored in eight games (36.50 on average per game). It is therefore not surprising to find three of our players (Nedim Remili with 39 goals, Mikkel Hansen with 36 and Elohim Prandi with 35) in the top 12 on the scoring chart. Defensively, Les rouge et Bleu have the excellent Vincent Gérard to rely on. The Parisian 'keeper tops the saves chart with no fewer than 87 stops so far this season.
Félicitations à @Nedim_Remili & @Gerard_Vincent pour leur place dans le 7 de l'@AJPHandball ! #NIMPSG @LidlStarligue
— PSG Handball (@psghand) November 16, 2020
To follow the game (kick-off at 15:20):
• Television: LNH TV and France 3 Ile-de-France
• Live tweet: our official page
(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)