Les Rouge et Bleu imperious in Saint-Raphaël

Comptes-rendus

Paris Saint-Germain Handball were in commanding form away to Saint-Raphaël, dominating a team with European ambitions with an iron fist (30-39). Here's our round-up ofthis closing fixture of Liqui Moly StarLigue Matchday 18.

A serious start

Elohim Prandi reminded us again on Thursday evening: big battles await the capital club. At the dawn of a week that could be a turning point in a season that has proven unpredictable so far, our Parisians were back on the road, heading to Saint-Raphaël for yetanother perilous away game. Currently fourth in the Liqui Moly StarLigue, the men from the south are in contention for their first continental qualification since 2018. Benjamin Braux's side were be hoping to give Raul Gonzalez's men, who were trying to get back to within a point of Nantes before the headline clash at Coubertin next week, a run for their money.

So, the stakes were clear from throw-off, and a great spectacle between two talented teams was on the cards. The crowd at the JF-Frankowski Palais des Sports didn't have to wait long for the action to start, with Andreas Palicka making a great save before setting up Kamil on the counterattack (1': 0-1). Despite being two men down and battling the energy of a large home crowd, Les Rouge et Bleu held out thanks in particular to Ferran, who took two bites to score (6': 4-4).

Immediate reaction

However, Raul Gonzalez's men showed perhaps a little too much commitment in the first quarter of an hour, and the third time that Saint-Raphaël went a man up, they took the lead (13’: 10-7). However, it was not enough to make Paris panic, and our lads continued to show patience and maturity in building up their game. As is often the case, it didn't take long for this approach to pay dividends. More incisive and playing as a true unit, the capital club hit three unanswered goals, thanks in particular to a double from Yahia Omar, and levelled the score (19': 12-12).

After twenty disjointed minutes, the Parisian machine was now in full swing and looking very much like the favourites they were. Elohim and Kamil both struck to give the capital club the lead, before a decidedly inspired Andreas Palicka confirmed his good start to the match by adding his name to the list of scorers (22': 13-15). A man up, Les Rouge et Bleu increased the intensity as the break approached. Both shooting at 100%, Kamil (five goals) and then Ferran (three goals) enabled their team to create the biggest lead of the match thus far (28': 15-19). After a first half of with two very distinct phases, Paris went into the dressing room four goals ahead (30': 17-21).

Les Rouge et Bleu prove ruthless

In the second half, the capital club picked up where they had left off in the first. Kamil and Ferran continued to fire and our Rouge et Bleu maintained their advantage (37': 21-25). Even with fewer players, the capital club managed to be more compact in defence to counter the Saint-Raphaël attacks. Seeing his men powerless even with seven attackers, Benjamin Braux decided to stop the game on the verge of the last quarter of an hour (43': 23-28).

The Southern coach's tactical adjustments had little effect. Having switched back to a six-man attack to improve stability, Saint-Raphaël were punished on numerous occasions on the counter. These lightning attacks were launched by the imperious Andreas Palicka (17 saves, his personal best in the league) and twice concluded by Elohim (46': 24-31).

Already struggling on the scoreboard, the men from Provence made things difficult for themselves at the end of the match with two temporary send-offs. Paris did not hesitate to take advantage of this, and it was Léo Plantin who punished Saint-Raphaël (50': 25-33). Les Rouge et Bleu took the opportunity to improve their stats in the dying minutes, Dani Baijens and Jacob Holm finding the net before Ruben Marchan hit three in a row. Solid, ruthless and in total control of the situation, Paris clinched an important victory and kept the pressure on Nantes (60': 30-39).

Reactions from Raul Gonzalez and Wallem Peleka:

Next up for Paris

Now it's time for a crucial week for our Parisians. Raul Gonzalez's men will first travel to North Macedonia to challenge Pelister on the final matchday of the EHF Champions League group stage. The stakes are high, as the capital club could clinch second place and qualify directly for the quarter-finals with a win and favourable results on the other courts. Just three days later, Paris will return to Coubertin, where they will need all their fans' help to defeat Nantes again in a headline Liqui Moly StarLigue clash with top spot on the line!

The last few tickets for Paris - Nantes !

(Credits: L. Valroff/PSG)