Preview: 5 things about Paris - Nantes (22-23)

News

On Friday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball play one of the most important matches of the season. In Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 29, they play host to Nantes at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in a match that could prove decisive in the race for the title.

1 - THE TABLE

This match-up has all the trappings of a final! Les Rouge et Bleu are currently top of the table - two points clear of The H - and a win would guarantee them the title. However, any result other than victory would leave them dependent on the final matches played by Nantes and Montpellier. 

2 - KEY STATS

Whatever the outcome of Friday's game, both teams are having an excellent season. Their fine performances are reflected in the figures, particularly in attack. Nantes and Paris have the two best attacks in the league, with 961 and 1,006 goals respectively. Individually, the capital club has looked to Kamil Syprzak (162 goals) and Elohim Prandi (158), while Nantes have been able to count on Valero Rivera (152).

Defensively, this long-distance duel is also very tight. While the Parisian rearguard has conceded 835 goals since the start of the season, The H's defence are just ahead with only 808 goals shipped. Viktor Hallgrimsson's 153 saves has been a major factor in this statistic, while Andreas Palicka has saved 216 shots, including a decisive one in the first leg away to Nantes.

3 - A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST MATCH

To round off 2022, Les Rouge et Bleu travelled to Nantes' Neodif XXL arena. The match was extremely close, and in the dying moments of the game, every different scenario was still possible (59': 32-32). After a goal by Elo', Paris took the lead, but The H had an opportunity to equalise from the penalty line after the buzzer - only to see it blocked by our Swedish 'keeper (32-33).

4 - THE LAST ONE AT HOME

Friday's match will mark the end of the 2022-2023 season at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. This year, Paris Saint-Germain Handball have played 23 matches in all competitions on their home court, winning 22 (and losing one). But the season is not over yet. There's still a round of Liqui Moly StarLigue in Aix, and above all the EHF Champions League Final4 in Cologne on 17 and 18 June.

5 - TO FOLLOW THE MATCH

Throw-off: 20:00
At the Stade Pierre de Coubertin: Tickets sold out
Television: beIN SPORTS 3
Social networks: Live-tweet

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)