Preview: 5 things about Paris - Saran

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Mercredi, le Paris Saint-Germain Handball reçoit Saran dans le cadre des 8es de finale de la Coupe de France. Coup d’œil sur cette rencontre.

1 - THE STATE OF PLAY

As 2023 draws to a close, Les Rouge et Bleu are still enjoying their excellent start to the season. By beating Cesson-Rennes 34-26 on Sunday, the capital club continued its unblemished record in the Liqui Moly StarLigue. The win rounded off a perfect week for Raul Gonzalez's men, who had secured a vital victory in Aalborg three days earlier (30-32) in EHF Champions League Matchday 10. The win moved the Parisians to within a point of the Danes, who currently sit second in the group. Having beaten Frontignan in the previous round of the Coupe de France (38-42), Paris are now hoping to book their place in the quarter-finals by beating a Saran side that has been struggling this season.

Saran's start to the season has been particularly complicated, and the winter break will probably do them a world of good. Back in the top flight of French handball this season, Saran are currently 15th in the Liqui Moly StarLigue, one point ahead of bottom-placed Dijon. Having beaten Cournon d'Auvergne in the last 32 (30-36), the team from the Loire valley will be looking to repeat the feat against an opponent they have never managed to beat. However, Les Rouge et Bleu must avoid falling into the trap set by Fabien Courtial's men, who have managed to beat Chambéry (29-27) and Dunkerque (31-24) this season.

2 - YANN GENTY THE SAVIOUR

Saran may be struggling this season, but they can count on Yann Genty. The former Parisian (2020-2022) is second on the saves chart (128) after 13 rounds of the Liqui Moly StarLigue campaign. The French international is second only to Rangel Luan Da Rosa (131 saves). The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Champion is the fourth-most effective goalkeeper among those who have played at least 50% of the total minutes this season. With 9 hours 22 minutes spent on the court in the first 13 rounds, Genty is also the second most-used player in the Liqui Moly StarLigue this season, all positions combined. Only Milan Bomastar, the Chartres goalkeeper, had played more, and is six minutes ahead of him.

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3 - THE OTHER FIXTURES

Among the other fixtures in the Coupe de France Round of 16, Chartres - last season's quarter-finalists - play host to Toulouse in the opening match. Tremblay, who beat Pays d'Aix 27-26 in the round of 32, will host Saint-Raphaël, Les Rouge et Bleus' league opponents, at 20:00 this Saturday. The only other ProLigue representative, Sélestat, host Dunkerque with the aim of repeating the feat they achieved against Ivry in the previous round (29-25). Defending champions Nantes, meanwhile, travel to Créteil in a replay of last season's round of 32, in which The H came out on top (29-34). On the way to their second Coupe de France title, Nantes beat Montpellier in the final, and now need to overcome Dijon to keep their hopes of a rematch alive as they push for another title. Limoges, in fine form in the first half of the season, travel to Nîmes in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Finally, to round off the round of 16, Chambéry travel to the Glaz Arena in Rennes to take on Les Irréductibles of Cesson-Rennes, who were recently beaten 34-26 by the capital club in the league.

4 - HEAD TO HEAD

The historical record between the two clubs runs firmly in favour of the capital club, who have a perfect record against Saran. Indeed, Les Rouge et Bleu have won every one of their seven meetings. Earlier this season, Raul Gonzalez's men recorded the biggest victory in their history against Saran (46-31), winning by 15 points at Coubertin in Liqui Moly StarLigue Round 7.

5 - TO FOLLOW THE MATCH

Throw-off: 19:15
Social networks: Live-tweet
At the Stade Pierre de Coubertin: Our ticket office

(Credits: L. Valroff/Team Pics/PSG)