Preview: 5 things about Paris - Cesson-Rennes

News

For one of the last times in 2024, Paris Saint-Germain handball will be playing at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. On Sunday, Les Rouge et Bleu host Cesson-Rennes for Liqui Moly StarLigue Matchday 12. Check out the five key facts about this match-up!

1 - Form

Things are going well for Raul Gonzalez's men in the league. Having won their first 11 matches in the Liqui Moly StarLigue, our players are right at the top of the standings. This fine run of form continued last week when they beat Chambéry 31-37. At the start of another weekend of competition, the Parisians have a two-point lead over second-placed Nantes.

Cesson-Rennes are in mid-table. The end of the calendar year promises to be crucial for the Bretons, who have their season fate in their own hands; they still can still climb to the top - or drop to the bottom - of the standings. It's a frustrating record for a side whose only real shortcoming this season has been a failure to string the wins together. Only Matchdays 6 and 7 ended with back-to-back wins.

2- A solid defence...

While the Brittany side's attack may have floundered in the first half of the season (second-weakest offensive line with 299 goals), one of the main strengths of Sébastien Leriche's team is their defence. With 313 goals conceded, their rearguard is the third-most effective in France. Mate Sunjic, who joined from Ivry in the summer, is no stranger to defensive success. The Croatian shot-stopper already has 101 saves to his name (just 35 fewer than in the whole of last season) and is the third-best keeper in this respect.

3 - ...against an effective attack

In front of its six-metre line, the capital club defends rather well too. Their nets have shaken 317 times (sixth-best defence) and our team can count on Jannick Green (66 saves) and Andreas Palicka (80) to protect their goal. But it was at the other end of the court that the Parisians have really won their games. Led by Kamil Syprzak (74 goals), Elohim Prandi (59), Yahia Omar (48) and Ferran Sole Sala (57), our attack is the most prolific in the LMS, with 393 goals scored.

4 - HEAD TO HEAD

Historically, the two teams know each other well. Sunday will mark the 27th time they have faced each other in French handball's top division. Paris Saint-Germain have won 22 of these encounters, with just one draw and three defeats to their name. The last defeat came in... 2012! Back then, our team lost by a single goal in Brittany (24-23). Since then, Les Rouge et Bleu have racked up all 22 of their wins against Sunday's opponents.

5 - TO FOLLOW THE MATCH

Throw-off: 17:00

Television: Handball TV

Social networks: live-tweet

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