Preview: 5 things about Montpellier - Paris

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Time for the Coupe de France semi-finals! Tuesday night, Paris Saint-Germain Handball will try to reach the final for a third season in a row - but to do so, they will have to beat arch-rivals Montpellier at the Sud de France Arena.

1 - THE STORY SO FAR

Montpellier's adventure in the Coupe de France began in September with a victory in Valence (20-37). But then, the MHB had to face two Liqui Moly StarLigue sides, travelling to Limoges (25-34) and Saint-Raphael (36-39). They would play their first game of the competition at home.

First up, Les Rouge et Bleu had to get past Strasbourg (22-36). After getting the beer of an excellent Chambéry side (31-30), they fought a great battle away to Chartres (35-37) in their first match of 2023. To defend their trophy in the final (Paris have won the last two finals) they will have to win in Montpellier.

2 - KEY STATS 

For this clash, Montpellier will not be able to count on their top scorer in the Coupe de France, Hugo Descat (23 goals) having injured his knee at the beginning of March and being absent until the end of the season. We will have to watch out for the well known Valentin Porte (13), who will be one of the main dangers. The capital club will be able to rely on the 20 goals of Elohim Prandi and the 17 of Ferran Solé Sala.

Defensively, the Montpellier rearguard has an excellent last line of defence: French international Remi Desbonnet, who has already made 32 saves in the competition. The most solicited Parisian 'keeper, Jannick Green, has 17 saves.

3 - THE MATCH OF THE SEASON

This season, Montpellier and Paris Saint-Germain Handball have already faced each other: in Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 14. The duel lived up to expectations and was only decided in the final moments (31-30). As a reminder, while the MHB are for the moment two points clear atop the table, Paris still have their destiny in their own hands. Indeed, there is still a return match to be played at the end of the month - at Coubertin! - with a head-to-head goal difference (-1) to make up.

4 - HEAD-TO-HEAD IN THE COUPE DE FRANCE

These teams are the top two on the list for Coupe de France title wins: Montpellier have 13 while Les Rouge et Bleu boast six. Head-to-head, Montpellier dominate with five wins to Paris' three, but our team are on a two-match win streak against the MHB - a run that includes the final won in 2021.

5 - TO FOLLOW THE GAME

Throw-off: 19:00
Television: Handball TV and beIN SPORTS 1
Social networks: Live-tweet

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)