Les Rouge et Bleu are in the final!

Comptes-rendus

Paris Saint-Germain Handball beat Montpellier 32-35 in the Coupe de France semi-final on Wednesday. Here's a look back at Les Rouge et Bleu's qualification for the showpiece final.

After an epic campaign marked by wins over Frontignan (38-42), Saran (44-27) and Nîmes (30-22), Raul Gonzalez and his men were just one win away from a place in the final at the Accor Arena - for the first time since 2022. To do so, Les Rouge et Bleu (without a number of key players) had to give their all to overcome Montpellier in a relatively well-packed Sud de France Arena.

Andreas Palicka responded to Rémi Desbonnet's saves to keep the scores level early on (6': 3-3). The Parisians soon found their rhythm, however, despite the home crowd's support, and managed to make the break thanks to Mathieu Grébille (9': 3-5). Montpellier did not let themselves be outdone in a spirited first period, however, and managed to get back on level terms after a tight first quarter (15': 8-8).

With the home side exploiting every gap left open by the Parisian rearguard, Andreas came to the rescue and kept his side afloat (19': 11-9). Luc Steins followed up with a brace and Les Rouge et Bleu were back in the game, forcing Patrice Cannayer to stop play (25': 16-14). Raul Gonzalez's men took full advantage of the time-out to turn the match on its head. They managed to regain the lead with three unanswered strikes and, after a double from Jacob Holm, Paris went into the locker room with a narrow advantage (30': 19-18).

Although Montpellier were more clinical in front of goal at the start of the second period, the capital club could count on their individual talents to make the difference. Among them was Sadou Ntanzi, who made the most of his chance to restore his side's lead (34': 20-21). In a thrilling second half, however, neither side was able to break the deadlock. Despite their best intentions, Raul Gonzalez's men came up against an imperious Charles Bolzinger on his debut (45': 27-27).

In the absence of a number of key players, Luc Steins established himself as the team's leader, grabbing his 13th assist of the evening to help Les Rouge et Bleu get their noses out in front (50': 29-30). The assist provider soon turned scorer to restore the capital club's lead, while Jannick Green kept Montpellier's attackers at bay (54': 30-31). In a breathtaking final minute, Ruben Marchan gave his side the lead. Then Jannick pulled off a last-gasp save to send the Parisians through to the final (60': 32-35). Despite missing a number of key players (the Karabatic brothers, Ferran Solé Sala, Kent Robin Tonnessen, Dominik Mathé, Elohim Prandi), Paris emerged victorious and will now return to the Accor Arena for the first time since 2022. The capital club will face Toulouse or Nantes on 20 April in a bid to win the seventh Coupe de France in club history.

REACTIONS FROM RAUL GONZALEZ, YOANN GIBELIN AND SADOU NTANZI :

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)