Preview: 5 things about Füchse Berlin - Paris

Avant-match

Paris Saint-Germain Handball travel to the German capital on Thursday to take on Füchse Berlin in the EHF Champions League Matchday 6 Match of the Week. Find out all you need to know about this European clash.

1 - Form

On the back of last season's historic runners-up spot in the Bundesliga, Füchse Berlin got their season off to a flying start, opening the season with a 30-32 win over Magdeburg in the German Supercup. Solid in the Bundesliga, Jaron Siewert's men came close to marking their return to the Champions League with a resounding victory over Veszprém, but fell short in the final minutes (31-32). After conceding their first league defeat at Hannover (38-35), the Berliners went on a run of six consecutive wins in all competitions - a run that came to an end last week. Deprived of the world's best player in 2023, Mathias Gidsel, the Foxes suffered back-to-back defeats at Sporting (35-33) and Bundesliga leaders Melsungen (33-31).

With eight consecutive wins, Paris Saint-Germain Handball are going from strength to strength. Our Rouge et Bleu are building up their confidence, which is fully evident on the court when it counts. Last week, Raul Gonzalez's men showed their seriousness and maturity to come from behind and clinch a dramatic late win against Dinamo Bucharest (35-32). Against Chartres on Sunday, the Parisians were once again put to the test, with everything still to play for at the break (30': 16-16). Led by an imperious Elohim Prandi, Paris redoubled their intensity to win by a large margin (36-26) and continue their perfect domestic record.

2 - Parisians face Dejan Milosavljev

While the attacking duel between Kamil Syprzak, Elohim Prandi and Mathias Gidsel remains doubtful due to the latter's possible absence, Les Rouge et Bleu will still have to face a giant this Thursday. With 55 saves to his nameso far this season, Dejan Milosavljev is second only to Emil Nielsen (58), having played one fewer match than his rival. In four games, the Serbian international has also saved five penalties, a record this season. The top scorer from the seven-metre line this season with 22 goals from 24 attempts, Kamil will have to be serious if he is to gain a psychological advantage over the Berlin 'keeper. The duel between the playmakers Luc Steins, who leads the league in assists (25), and Lasse Anderson, who has scored 45 times in the first five rounds, promises to be particularly exciting.

3 - HEAD TO HEAD

After Fredericia, the capital club have another unprecedented Champions League clash in store. But the Parisians and Berliners have crossed swords before: the two sides clashed in Doha, Qatar, on the occasion of the 2016 Super Globe. The Foxes, who were the defending champions, put their crown on the line against the capital club. The Parisians took full advantage of their invitation to face the cream of world handball: after seeing off African champions Esperance de Tunis (38-31), Les Rouge et Bleu struck a blow by defeating Kielce (25-29) despite the Poles' status as European champions. Playing their third match in the space of four days, the Parisians fell by a whisker in the final to Kent Robin Tonnesen's Füchse Berlin (29-28).

4 - The other Group A fixtures

On Wednesday evening, Fredericia will be looking to confirm their rise to prominence by picking up their first ever Champions League point, against Wisla Plock. A week before their trip to Coubertin, Sporting will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record at Dinamo Bucharest. Back on home soil, the Romanians will be keen to end their run of two consecutive defeats on the European stage. Finally, Veszprém, level on points with the Parisians going into Matchday 6, travel to Northern Macedonia to take on Pelister on Thursday evening. Still in search of their first Champions League win, the Macedonians will be aiming for another feat after holding off Sporting in their last home match.

5 - To follow the match

Throw-off: 18:45

Television: Eurosport

Social networks: Live-tweet

(Credits: E. Renard/Team Pics/PSG)