On the line!
Paris sent out a strong message to their EHF Champions League rivals with a fourth successive win in the competition at the expense of familiar foes Nantes.
Nedim Remili set the tone from the off, opening the scoring on two minutes! The rest of the team followed the number 7's example, going four-for-four on their shots in the opening five minutes (5', 4-3). The two LIDL Starligue heavyweights went toe for toe, but Nicolas Claire and Kiril Lazarov kept them ahead (10': 7-5). Luka Karabatic upped the pressure and the atmosphere by giving the hosts a three-goal lead (12': 8-5). In goal, Rodrigo kept Nantes at bay, but he was matched by opposite number Cyril Dumoulin (6 saves in the 23rd-minute: 16-11). With five goals each, Remili and Luka Karabatic, Paris had their noses in front, with Niko Karabatic's blockbuster on the buzzer giving them a 19-16 half-time lead.
Remili picked up where he left off after the break (33': 20-18), but Nantes hit back though Lazarov (4/5 for the Macedonian in the 35th-minute: 22-19). A brace from Balaguer brought Nantes to within a goal (43': 25-24), but Luc Abalo dashed their hopes (44': 27-24)! Sander Sagosen and Abalo kept Paris ahead (57': 33-31), but Nantes came back to within a goal before a seven-metre throw sealed it for the Parisians (35-34). With eight and seven goals respectively, Nedim Remili and Luka Karabatic shone as Paris went joint-top of Group B with Szeged with 100% records after four games. And with a stunning 135 goals, Paris' attack is on fire, and they look like they can blaze a trail right through Europe.
Paris scorers:
Nedim Remili (8 goals), Luka Karabatic (7), Mikkel Hansen (6), Nikola Karabatic (5), Luc Abalo (3), Uwe Gensheimer (3), Sander Sagosen (3).
(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)