Paris prevail in tough derby

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After victory in the middle of the week away to Magdeburg in EHF Champions League (22-27), Paris Saint-Germain Handball returned to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin and the Liqui Moly StarLigue for their Round 4 derby at home to Créteil on Saturday afternoon.

The beginning of the match was very even. Despite Parisian domination, the visitors were skilful and prevented our team from taking off (7': 6-5). Daring and spectacular play necessarily entails some technical errors, and our players couldn't shake their neighbours (10': 6-6). Until the powerful arm of Elohim Prandi, the clinical finishing of Kamil Syprzak and a spin-shot from captain on the day Mathieu Grébille saw capital club make the break (17': 10-7).

After this initial observation round, Les Rouge et Bleu were in the lead. Among the Parisian scorers was young right-winger Valentin Bzdynga, who showed off some very sharp skills (21': 12-7). However, it was still not enough to break clear. The visitors exploited their counter-attacks perfectly and stay in the game (26': 14-12). At the break, the two sides were on near-level pegging in a match that could go either way. 

After the break, Andreas Palicka had to work hard to prevent Créteil from taking a two-goal lead (35': 17-18). The problem was that his counterpart from Créteil, Dylan Soyez, was also stepping up and frustrating our offensive line (36': 17-19). This two-goal deficit lit a fire under Raul Gonzalez's men and soon they were back on the right track! They inflicted a quick-fire 3-0 on their opponent and take the lead (39': 20-19). Our players could have been even further ahead had it not been for the continued exploits of Soyez (45': 22-21).

As a suspenseful money-time loomed, Les Rouge et Bleu looked to make things easier for themselves by upping the skill factor (48': 25-22). Their rear-guard was also much more solid and provoked in its turn some gaffes from the opposing forwards (53': 29-25). Thanks to a Kamil Syprzak with 12 goals (he equalled his personal league record!), Paris Saint-Germain Handball perfectly controlled the end of the game (57': 34-26) and prevailed in what was a very tough derby! Their next appointment will be European, with the visit of Zagreb on Thursday night as EHF Champions League Matchday 4 action gets under way.

RAUL GONZALEZ, YOANN GIBELIN AND VALENTIN BZDYNGA'S REACTIONS:

 

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