Great win at Coubertin

Match reports

Three days after their EHF Champions League victory over Porto, Paris Saint-Germain Handball returned to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin to host Cesson-Rennes. In Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 13, the Parisians did battle with the league's sixth-placed side, who boast the division's tightest defence (317 goals conceded).

At the beginning of the match, Luka Karabatic and the young Léo Plantin gave Paris an early lead over the Brittany club (5': 4-3). As the minutes passed, the Parisians consolidated their lead in front of their own fans (11': 7-5), two consecutive goals by Elohim Prandi giving Les Rouge et Bleu a comfortable cushion just before the end of the first quarter of an hour (17': 11-7).

Dainis Kristopans' powerful shot kept Paris in the lead (24': 14-11). Before half-time, the visitors tried to come back into the game but Kamil Syprzak scored another goal (29': 17-14) and went into the real still in the lead despite the Breton threat!

In the second act, the Parisians got an early scare when the visitors levelled it up (34': 17-17) but, fortunately for Les Rouge et Bleu, Ferran Sole Sala and Elohim Prandi were present to steady the ship (38': 20-19). Then it was Dainis Kristopans' turn to shine, his goals and assists getting the Parisians back in the driver's seat (45': 27-23).

Elohim Prandi proved unstoppable as he countered the visitors' attacking threats with three goals in the space of three minutes (51': 30-26)! The last ten minutes of the match were calm, thanks to David Balaguer's conical finishing (56': 34-29). And it was the Spaniard who scored the last Parisian goal, sealing the win (60': 36-32), keeping Paris Saint-Germain Handball atop the Liqui Moly StarLigue standings!

(Credits: L. Valroff/Team Pics/PSG)