Introducing HBC Nantes

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Paris Saint-Germain Handball now know who awaits them in the Velux EHF Champions League group stage. Here is the first in our series of portraits of Paris Saint-Germain Handball's Group B opponents: HBC Nantes, the other French team in the group.

Nantes in a few words
Among all the sides Paris Saint-Germain Handball will take on in the group stage, Nantes are certainly the one they know best. Over the last few seasons, the tow sides have become accustomed to facing off in various competitions, with varying results. Indeed, be it in the Lidl StarLigue, the Coupe de France, the Coupe de la Ligue or the Velux EHF Champions League, every one of their clashes was a real do-or-die battle.

 

2017-2018
The H turned in an excellent performance on the European stage last season. Against all expectations, they won through to the final in their first-ever Final4 appearance. After beating the Rouge et Bleu in the semis, they fell at the last hurdle, against Montpellier. Before that, Thierry Anti's men had fought through a tough group that also included Vardar and Barcelona. They then trumped Meshkov Brest and Skjern to punch their ticket for Cologne.

 

Key players
Such a glorious run wouldn't have been possible without a talent-filled squad. At Nantes, there are several players who could wear the label of key man, starting with Spain international Eduardo Gurbindo, who top-scored for the club in the Velux EHF Champions League last season with no fewer than 79 goals. His compatriot, David Balaguer, France internationals Nicolas Tournat and Romain Lagarde, the emblematic Kiril Lazarov and 'keeper Cyril Dumoulin all add their skill and dedication to a side that is now without question among Europe's very best.

 

Best performances
As noted above, matches between Nantes and Paris are always spectacular. The sides know each other perfectly and will doubtless produce a pair of memorable encounters in their home and away clashes in the group stage. The last time they met was a veritable barn-burner, in the semis in Cologne. While The H dominated large stretches of the match, the Rouge et Bleu finished the stronger and carved out a number of chances to level it (32-28). The 2016-2017 Coupe de la Ligue final was also one to remember, especially for a victorious Paris side, as was their clash in the Velux EHF Champions League Round of 16 in that same season.

 

FIXTURES
Paris – Nantes: Round 4
Nantes – Paris: Round 11

 

(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)