Paris avoid the trap in Dijon

News

Paris Saint-Germain Handball returned to Liqui Moly StarLigue action on Sunday afternoon. It was a clash of extremes that awaited the league leaders, who travelled to the Palais des Sports Jean-Michel Geoffroy to face bottom-placed Dijon on Matchday 27.

The Parisians were determined to play their role of favourites to the hilt, and got off to a flying start. The main weapons were Ruben Marchan and Elohim Prandi, who put on a show with their passing and finishing (6': 2-6). Although the Parisian rearguard was effective, with Jannick Green pulling off an exceptional double save, it was in the attacking sector that Raul Gonzalez's men made the difference in this opening period (15': 7-10).

Spurred on by their fans, Dijon found a few solutions in attack and made up some of their deficit (18': 10-12). For several minutes, neither side went more than two points clear (21': 12-14) and it wasn't until the final moments of the first period (after even more saves from Jannick) that the capital club got back out in front (25': 12-17). At the break, our players were in the lead despite being pushed hard by a team determined to fight for their lives.

At the restart, the Burgundians continued to make the most of their chances (34': 18-21) and it took some clinical finishing from Ruben and plenty of guile from Wallem Peleka to keep the Parisians out in front (37': 19-24). The gap grew ever wider and Raul Gonzalez's men moved to +6 for the first time after a stunner from Elo' (40': 21-27). It was a decent lead, but still not enough to put them firmly in the driving seat as the final ten minutes approached (47': 26-29).

Despite Dijon's fine play, Les Rouge et Bleu were managing their lead - and their weaker moments - well, which enabled them to stay in the ascendancy as the clock continued to tick down (51': 27-32). Paris took advantage of their opponents' seven-man play to score into the empty net and extend their lead (54': 28-35). Moments later, Paris Saint-Germain Handball won for the 25th time in 27 league games this season (60': 31-38). They remain atop the standings, three points clear of Nantes, as they head into the international break!

REACTIONS FROM RAUL GONZALEZ, MATHIEU GRÉBILLE AND RUBEN MARCHAN :

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