Paris consolidate Group A lead

Match reports

On Thursday evening, the EHF Champions League made its return to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin! In Matchday 12 action, Paris Saint-Germain Handball hosted Dinamo Bucharest. Facing a team that is still looking for a place in the last 16, the capital club, leader of the group, had the opportunity to secure their place in the top two and stitch up direct qualification for the quarter-finals. To do so, they had to get the win and hope for Veszprém to Geta result in Magdeburg.

At the beginning of the match, Les Rouge et Bleu struggled to break clear (6': 4-3). They even found themselves trailing against an attack that proved very efficient in the early stages (11': 5-7). After a few minutes to warm up, our defence managed to get the better of the visiting front line. At the same time, the attack, well led by an excellent Dominik Mathé, took the lead in an electric atmosphere (16': 9-8). 

However, several technical errors prevented the Parisians from making the break (20': 10-10); for that, they had to wait for the final minutes of the first half. Now solid in all areas, our players went to +3 after a goal by captain on the night Mathieu Grébille (26': 16-13). Despite several nice saves from Bucharest goalkeeper Khalifa Ghedbane, the capital club stayed on top and went back to the locker room with a promising lead.

After the break, Les Rouge et Bleu's rearguard solidified even more. Between Jannick Green's saves, shots thwarted by Yoann Gibelin and Elohim's strong passes, nothing got through (34': 19-14). If it wasn't for a few offensive blunders, the gap could have been even bigger (40': 22-18). Fortunately, the visitors struggled to find the Parisian target and Raul Gonzalez's men maintain the gap (43': 25-20). They could therefore approach the last quarter of an hour with more serenity (47': 26-20). 

The last ten minutes were heralded by a beautiful chabala from David Balaguer (50': 28-22). The minutes ticked down and the victory drew closer and closer (54': 30-25) - even more so when Gautier Loredon found the top corner after a great team move (57': 31-25). A few moments later, Paris Saint-Germain Handball were declared winners, clinching the two points. With Magdeburg's victory against Veszprém (32-25), Les Rouge et Bleu are now four points ahead of their nearest rivals (with four still up for grabs). A win in Plock next week will ensure them the top spot in the group.

REACTIONS FROM RAUL GONZALEZ, MATHIEU GRÉBILLE AND YOANN GIBELIN:

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