Preview: 5 things about Paris - Chartres
On Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain Handball play host to Chartres on Liqui Moly StarLigue Matchday 7. Find out all you need to know about the match.
1 - Form
After a month and a half of competition, the Parisian machine seems to have hit cruising speed. Les Rouge et Bleu have won seven games in a row in all competitions and are now alone at the top of the Liqui Moly StarLigue. Perfect through six matchdays, Raul Gonzalez's men took advantage of Toulouse's slip-up at Cesson-Rennes last week to seize sole control of the standings. At Créteil, the Parisians recorded their biggest win of the season (31-45), with Kamil Syprzak and Jannick Green named in the team of the week.
Chartres, meanwhile, have a perfectly balanced record of three wins and as many defeats. This satisfactory start to the season has earned the team the reputation of being a potential pitfall not to be underestimated. Nebojsa Stojinovic's men have already caused a surprise on two occasions this season. On Matchday 2, they beat Saint Raphaël (25-28), before Chambéry suffered the same fate three weeks later (30-28). It was a special victory for the team from the Centre-Val-de-Loire region, as it saw their unenviable run of seven consecutive home defeats come to an end. Last week, Chartres put on a good show at Limoges, but failed to spring another surprise (32-28).
2 - Paris face Milan Bomastar
Chartres' good start to the season has come largely due to their defensive solidity. The fifth-best defence in the Liqui Moly StarLigue with 179 goals conceded, they owe this efficiency mainly to Milan Bomastar. In only his second season in France, the Serbian keeper has continued his meteoric rise and is now proving to be one of the best in his position in the top flight. With 70 saves to his name after six games, the 25-year-old is second only to Romain Mathias, who has made three more stops for Istres. Bomastar also stands out in terms of save rate, as he is the third-most efficient keeper in the league (33% of shots saved) behind two big names: French international Rémi Desbonnet (35%) and our own Jannick Green (34%). The Parisians have been warned not to allow the Serb to gain confidence in this match. A mistake made by Chambéry a fortnight ago, and the Savoyards paid the price. A key player in his team's success, Milan Bomastar put in his best performance since joining the league, making 20 saves at a staggering 45% rate.
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3 - Kamil Syprzak gets three out of three
For their part, the club from the capital can count on their attacking armada, which includes Elohim Prandi, Luc Steins and Kamil Syprzak. The latter has started this campaign in the same way as he ended the last, showing no mercy to opposing defences. Top scorer in the league and Champions League last season, our pivot has been all the more effective in this first month of competition. Third-top scorer (47 goals) behind Dunkerque's Tom Pelayo (58) and Ivry's Toke Schröder (51), it is his unrivalled efficiency that is particularly striking. With an 85% success rate in the league this season, Kamil clearly dominates his peers. Named one of the best players of September, the Polish international has now been named in the Liqui Moly StarLigue Team of the Week three times in a row. In the first six rounds, the Parisian has been honoured four times, demonstrating his importance to Paris's success.
🤩 Le 𝟳 𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 #LiquiMolyStarLigue
— AJPH (@AJPHandball) October 14, 2024
On félicite les 8 joueurs qui composent l’équipe type de cette J6, toujours emmenée par l’incontournable @syprzak_kamil 🇵🇱🔥
Un choix jamais facile effectué par le jury des anciens « le 7 by ajph » et par @lequipe ✅ pic.twitter.com/iG3vbn6rYM
4 - Head to head
Although a match is won out on the court, Les Rouge et Bleu can take pride in going into the match with a clear psychological advantage. That's because, quite apart from the capital club's good form, it's their record in previous encounters that will have Chartres worried. Paris are their opponents' main bête noire, having won all eleven of their meetings. In fact, Raul Gonzalez's side have won by a margin of at least nine goals in four of their five meetings at Coubertin.
5 - To follow the match
Throw-off: 17:00 at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin
Television: beIN SPORTS 3
Social networks: Live-tweet
(Credits: E. Renard/Team Pics/PSG)