Five things on Elverum - PSG Handball

News

After a week with four matches, Paris Saint-Germain Handball sadly have time to catch their breath! On Tuesday evening, they play host to Elverum in their postponed EHF Champions League Matchday 11fixture. Although every team qualifies for the round of 16, there is still plenty at stake in this match!

1 - The rankings
Despite their narrow defeat last week in Flensburg (28-27), Les Rouge et Bleu well situated in Group A. Currently in third place, they can no longer hope to finish on top of the group, but second is still within their grasp. To do so, Raul Gonzalez's men would need to win their last two games (at home, against Elverum and Szeged) and Kielce would have to lose on the last day and when they play host to Flensburg. For their part, the Norwegians (also 12 matches played) are in last position and could lose all hope of changing that fact if they fail to win at Coubertin. As the rankings currently stand, the Parisians would face Nantes in the next round while Elverum would face Barcelona.

2 - A look back at the first match
On Matchday 4, in October, Elverum travelled to the French capital. Although our team had the upper hand the whole game, the visitors didn't make it easy, with Swede Josef Pujol hitting seven goals. Luckily, our left-back Elohim Prandi was able to score from all six of his attempts, while Mikkel Hansen was the match's top scorer with eight. But above and beyond the sporting stakes, this headline clash was a tribute to Paris Saint-Germain Handball legend Luc Abalo (four goals). Our former right-winger (from 2012 to 2020) joined the Norwegian team last summer.

3 - Second round at Coubertin
Contrary to usual practice, the return match will not take place away from home for the Parisians, but at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. Because of the difficulties of entering Norwegian territory due to the country's pandemic measures, the EHF reversed the fixture. Thus, Elverum will travel to Paris for a second consecutive time. It's also an opportunity for Lucio to return once again to the land where he won seven French Champion titles. As a reminder, last season, Les Rouge et Bleu did make the trip, playing Hakons Hall in Lillehammer (known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics). The goal was to take advantage of the 12,000 seats and beat the spectator record for an indoor sports match in Norway.

4 - Key stats
Mikky's European season has been simply exceptional. Despite having played fewer matches (ten) than any of his rivals, the Danish international is second on the scorers chart with 72 goals. Only Kielce's Spanish full-back Alex Dujshebaev (13 matches played) has more goals (74). The first Elverum player to appear in this table occupies the 22nd place: Hungarian right-back, Dominik Mathe, who scored seven times against Flensburg (29-30). Collectively, Elverum and Paris have scored 327 and 334 goals respectively, while conceding 375 and 298 goals.

5 - Follow the game (throw-off at 18:45) 
• Television: Eurosport Player
• At the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium: behind closed doors
• Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)