Paris dominate Montpellier at an electric Coubertin

Comptes-rendus

Paris Saint-Germain handball beat Montpellier 29-23 at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Sunday. Take a look back at this Liqui Moly StarLigue Matchday 9 clash.

On the eve of the first international break of the season, the capital club was preparing to play host to one of its biggest rivals, MHB, at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. Montpellier entered a new era this summer following the departure of emblematic coach Patrice Cannayer, and have lost none of their superb form. With just one defeat in all competitions this season (at Nantes), Erick Mathé's men are keeping up the pressure on Raul Gonzalez's side. With a perfect record after eight games, Paris had a chance to pull clear of the south-western giants. Les Rouge et Bleu were be keen to continue their run of form in front of another capacity crowd before many of them headed off on international duty.

From the very first minutes, the Parisians and Montpellier began the battle at a frenetic pace (4': 2-2). With the visitors rushing forward, Paris took advantage of two blunders to quickly win the ball back and make the break (5': 4-2). Coubertin, already white-hot at throw-off, went wild after Andreas Palicka's first save. In attack, the capital club also shone, as demonstrated by the clinical finishing from Elohim, who had already found the back of the net four times (8': 6-4). However, the left-back was not alone in demonstrating his attacking prowess. With Kamil Syprzak and Yahia Omar also on target, the league's most dangerous forward line showed no mercy to Charles Bolzinger, duly taking a three-goal lead into the second quarter of an hour (15': 11-8).

Despite the visitors' determination, Paris remained on their feet and kept up the pace. After another save from Andreas, Elo‘ and then Kent took turns racking up three unanswered goals to maintain the Parisians' three-goal lead (21’: 13-10). However, Charles Bolzinger stepped up his game at the end of the first period and made three saves to get his side back on level terms (25': 13-13). Les Rouge et Bleu managed to turn the things back around through Kamil, who took his tally to four goals, which prompted the match's first time-out, called by the visitors (29': 14-13). After a final Montpellier goal, the visitors returned to the dressing room with a narrow one-goal lead. The Parisians had everything to play for in the second half (30': 14-15).

After the break, the capital club did not let themselves be outdone. Kamil reset the score and gave the Parisians some momentum (32': 15-15). Displaying an exemplary mind-set, Les Rouge et Bleu wiped out a two-goal deficit and regained control of a match that was certainly living up to its billing (38': 19-18). With a quick-fire four unanswered goals, the Parisian machine was clearly too much for the visitors, who were forced to stop play (39': 20-18). Despite being ahead on the scoreboard, Paris had no intention of letting their guard down - quite the contrary. Andreas Palicka twice denied Arthur Lenne and set Coubertin alight (44': 22-19). It was Pale's tenth save of the game and it showed the way for Les Rouge et Bleu, who proved ruthless in front of goal as they kept their noses in front (46': 22-20).

With less than fifteen minutes to go, Raul Gonzalez's men seemed to have taken the psychological lead over Montpellier. Thanks to further exploits from their fearsome attacking trio of Elohim, Yahia and Kamil, Paris scored three more in a row (52': 25-20). As the game drew to a close, Elohim not only scored his eleventh goal of the match, but also his 900thcareer goal in the Liqui Moly StarLigue with a trademark thunderbolt. A man up, the Parisians continued to put on a show in front of a standing-room-only crowd as the match drew to a close (57': 27-23). In total control throughout the second half, Les Rouge et Bleu clinched a precious victory in the race for the title and continued their perfect record in the league (60': 29-23). Now it's time for the first international break of the season, before the team return to action away to Aix on 17 November.

Reactions from Raul Gonzalez, Yahia Omar and David Balaguer:

(Credits: L. Valroff/PSG/A.Meunier/Getty)