Paris prevail in Montpellier!

News

Three days after their victory in Nantes (24-26), Paris Saint-Germain Handball had to return to action on Wednesday - and it wasn't your run-of-the-mill clash. No, the league leaders (11 wins in as many games), travelled to nearest rivals Montpellier for their round 13 clash, the opportunity for former Montpellier man Mathieu Grébille, to face his boyhood club for the first time.

While Sunday's match against The H had started with a feeling-out period, this one bolted out of the blocks, with each attack yielding a goal (4': 3-3). This opening period may have been evenly balanced, but it was the capital club leadings the dance, obliging their opponents to equalise after scoring on several counter-attacks concluded by Luc Steins (7' : 4-5). But even with their fast-passing game functioning smoothly, Paris couldn't break clear (11': 7-7).

The match looked set to be a long and stressful one (14': 9-9)... The Montpellier goalkeeper, Marin Sego, played with our nerves by pushing back several attempts and then scoring from his own zone (15': 10-9). This gave the home side the upper hand for a while, and they took advantage to make the first break of the match, forcing Raul Gonzalez to call a time-out (17': 12-9). Les Rouge et Bleu had to chase the score (20': 13-10).

But our players were never far off the pace and they got back to within one goal when Dainis Kristopans took advantage of a magic pass from Mikkel Hansen to score with a kung-fu (24': 14-13). Montpellier managed to regain a two-goal lead just before the break but Nedim Remili brought his team level on the buzzer and kept hopes alive - while scoring his 900th goal for Paris!

The break did nothing to calmed the intensity of the match and the two teams immediately got back to duking it out (34': 22-22). Les Rouge et Bleu began to defend better and had several chances to take the lead, but somehow conspired to miss them (36': 23-22) until Viran Morros set off a strong team move that Luc capped with a devilish angled shot (38': 23-24).

The Parisians missed another chance to go in front when Mikky's penalty was turned back (40': 24-24), but fortunately Montpellier failed to capitalise and the suspense remained intact as the final ten minutes approached (44': 27-26). A few days after the battle in Nantes, Les Rouge et Bleu were in no mood to let it go down to the wire again and stepped on the gas, going three goals to the good with ten minutes left to play.

Offensively, the Parisians were on target and defensively, Vincent Gérard (on his 34th birthday) got stronger and stronger, winning several one-on-ones at crucial moments (53': 28-32). The intensity was almost unbearable as the two sides battled but, in dazzling form, Ferran Solé Sala (8 from 10) allowed his team to break clear (54': 28-33). Solid to the end, Paris Saint-Germain Handball held out to claim victory away to their nearest rivals! The Parisians now count 12 victories from as many Lidl Starligue matches this season!

(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)