From the archives: Paris's EHF Champions League play-offs

2014: Paris come back from two goals down against Gorenje Velenje

Eliminated from their EHF Champions League group for the first time in their history after finishing second behind Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain had to face Slovenia's Gorenje Velenje in the play-offs. Things didn't did not go as planned in Slovenia, with an unexpected defeat (30-28). But there was no need for Les Rouge et Bleu to panic, as they were much more enterprising in the return leg. In front of a large crowd who were there to push their team to a historic qualification for the quarter-finals, the capital club gave their rivals no chance (34-25). However, the adventure ended in the next round with a defeat against Veszprém.

2015 and 2017: The Parisians strong in all-French duels

Having an all-French duel in Europe always leaves a bitter feeling, especially when it happens so early in the competition. In 2015, our Rouge et Bleu faced reigning French champions Dunkerque. Despite the capital club's attacking armada, the Nordistes put up a good fight, both in their Stade des Flandres (21-23) and even at Coubertin (23-22). Driven on in particular by a flamboyant Mikkel Hansen in the first leg (11 goals), the Parisians secured their second consecutive qualification for the quarter-finals before, once again, falling to Veszprém.

Two years later, it was once again against a rival from France that Paris had to defeat to reach the next round. This time, it was HBC Nantes standing in the way of our Rouge et Bleu. After a fierce battle in the city on the Loire (26-26), Nedim Remili (ten goals) led his team to a deserved victory at Coubertin (35-27). It was a victory that would lead to a historic run for Paris. Qualifying for the Final4 after eliminating Szeged in the quarter-finals, Paris took their revenge against Veszprém in the semi-finals to reach the first EHF Champions League final in their history. Unfortunately, Zvonimir Serdarusic's men lost the final to Raul Gonzalez's Vardar Skopje.

2021: Dylan Nahi and Vincent Gérard merciless against Celje

After Gorenje Velenje in 2014, another Slovenian giant stood in the Parisians' way. More experienced and better equipped, this time the capital club did not mess around, either away from home or at Coubertin. In the first leg, Dylan Nahi (ten goals) and Vincent Gérard (thirteen saves) put an end to Celje's hopes (24-37). Without forcing the issue, Raul Gonzalez's men confirmed their superiority in front of their home crowd a week later (31-23). Winners over Kiel in the quarter finals, Paris returned to the Final4, but fell in the semi-finals to Aalborg, then coached by future Paris Saint-Germain Handball coach Stefan Madsen.

2022: Frustrated in Norway, Paris put on a show against Elverum at Coubertin

The following season, Les Rouge et Bleu were forced to go through the play-offs again in their quest for the title. Against Elverum, the Parisians came close to a perfect match: in attack, Kamil Syprzak gave his best Champions League performance for Paris (12 goals), while Luc Steins was perfect (7 goals from 7 attempts). The capital club also responded well defensively, with 13 saves, but all the effort proved insufficient to take an option on qualification (30-30). In the return leg, Paris were more successful, and secured their place in the next round (37-30).

2024: Les Rouge et Bleu hold their nerve against Plock

Finally, last season, Raul Gonzalez's men had done the hard part in the first leg in Poland against Wisla Plock (26-30). Although the return leg at Coubertin was closer, it did not prevent the Parisians from clinching another victory in front of their home crowd (34-33). Qualifying for the quarter-finals for the 11th consecutive season, Paris nevertheless failed to trouble Barcelona, who went on to take the title.

(Credits: J. Azouze/L. Valroff/PSG/E. Renard/Team Pics)