Preview: 5 things about Paris - Nîmes

Avant-match

Paris return to official action on Sunday when they welcome Nîmes to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin as the Coupe de France quarter-finals get under way. Find out all you need to know about this first match of 2024.

1 - THE STATE OF PLAY

More than a month and a half later, Paris and Nîmes meet again! It was against the same opponents that Raul Gonzalez's men ended 2023, recording their 15th victory in as many rounds of the Liqui Moly StarLigue (24-34). The two sides will now face off in a completely different context at Coubertin on Sunday. Les Rouge et Bleu beat Frontignan (39-42) and then Saran (44-27) to reach the Coupe de France quarter-finals. Still looking to get their hands back on a trophy they last won in 2022, the Parisians will first have to overcome the outfit from the Gard region, who have earned a reputation as a tricky team in recent seasons.

Nîmes, for their part, had a tough time of it against Limoges in the previous round (26-24), and will be looking to reach the last four of the competition for the first time since 2018. The defeat to the capital club in Round 15 rounded off a bitter-tasting first half of the season for Nîmes, who began their campaign with five wins in as many games before conceding seven defeats in their next ten outings.

2 - THE HEROES RETURN

After a month away from domestic competition, the Rouge et Bleu players called up by their respective nations for EHF Euro 2024 will be making their comeback at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Sunday. Eight players travelled to Germany to represent their countries: Luc Steins, Andreas Palicka, Kent Robin Tonnesen, Kamil Syprzak, Luka Karabatic, Nikola Karabatic and Elohim Prandi. However, it was only the last three mentioned who returned to the French capital as heroes, with the gold medal around their necks, obtained with Les Bleus. So don't miss the chance to celebrate the Tricolores' return to Coubertin and get your tickets now!

3 - THE OTHER FIXTURES

The eight teams still in contention to win the Coupe de France this season are all Liqui Moly StarLigue sides. Still in the hunt to retain their title, Montpellier play host to Dunkerque on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Nantes, who failed to reach the final last season, will have to overcome Saint-Raphaël to keep their title hopes alive. Cesson-Rennes, who have reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2016, will be looking to continue their run of success by beating Toulouse on Sunday.

4 - HEAD TO HEAD

Paris and Nîmes have met 36 times in their history. Raul Gonzalez's men have the upper hand in this fixture, with 26 wins and seven defeats to their name. Les Rouge et Bleu have only met their Nîmes counterparts once before in the Coupe de France - in the 2018 final! On that day, the capital club won the Coupe for the fourth time in club history (26-32).

5 - TO FOLLOW THE MATCH

Throw-off: 17:00

At the Stade Pierre de Coubertin: our ticket office

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