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Preview: 5 things about Paris - Sporting

Avant-match

On Wednesday, our Rouge et Bleu take on Sporting CP at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin as part of EHF Champions League Matchday 7. Find out all you need to know about this first-ever meeting between the Parisians and the Lisbon giants.

1 - Form

Having beaten Füchse Berlin in the German capital in their last continental outing (38-40), the capital club are in a strong position in this group stage. With a run of four consecutive Champions League wins under their belts, the Rouge et Bleu have joined Veszprém at the top of the group. As we approach the first international break of the season, our team has an encouraging record of five wins and one defeat in the Champions League - and a perfect home record in all competitions.

Back in Europe's top club competition after a four-season absence, Sporting are far from making up the numbers. Buoyed by the Costa brothers, the Lisbon outfit have confirmed their rise to prominence on the domestic scene by being one of the surprises of the early part of the campaign. As proof, the Portuguese beat Veszprém (39-30) and Füchse Berlin (35-33) to maintain their unbeaten record and clinch top spot in the group. That run came to an last time out, however, with Dinamo Bucharest handing them their first defeat of the campaign (33-29). Third, one point behind Raul Gonzalez's men, Sporting will travel to Coubertin with high hopes and a determination to end the first half of the group stage campaign with another surprise.

2 - Les Rouge et Bleus' rise - in numbers

For several weeks now, the club from the capital has seemed to grow in strength with each passing match. Relying on the entirety of his squad, Raul Gonzalez is managing the end of games to perfection, exploiting the fatigue of his opponents, as shown by the recent last-gasp wins over Bucharest (35-32) and Berlin (38-40). It's a management style that allows every player a chance to shine, but also allows the team as a whole to grow in confidence. As proof, Paris boast the three most decisive players of this Champions League campaign so far. Luc Steins (30 goals, 29 assists) and Elohim Prandi (37 goals, 22 assists), both of whom have made 59 decisive appearances, have proved indispensable to the capital club's fine form. But players are just as capable of scoring as they are of finding openings for the clinical Kamil Syprzak in front of goal. The competition's top scorer after six rounds, with 47 goals to his name, our Polish pivot is always in the right frame of mind. Along with Luc and Elohim, he forms an attacking trio that is devastating for opposing defences. Rivals are finding it harder and harder to keep up. Paris have the best attack in the Champions League with 196 goals, eight more than their closest pursuers, Dinamo Bucharest.

3 - Group A fixtures

Co-leaders with Paris Saint-Germain, Veszprém travel to Wisla Plock on Wednesday evening. The Poles have been struggling in the early stages of the campaign, sitting fifth with just two points from six games. On Thursday, Füchse Berlin will be looking to close the gap on opponents Dinamo Bucharest and end a run of two consecutive defeats on the continental stage. Finally, the first half of the Group A campaign concludes with a bottom-of-the-table duel between Fredericia and Pelister. Having beaten Plock last week, the Danes will be looking to build on their success against the Macedonians put sme space between them and the bottom of the table.

4 - An unprecedented encounter

Although last week's Champions League clash between Paris and Berlin was the first of its kind, the two sides had previously met once in another competition - the 2016 Superglobe. In Sporting, the club from the capital is preparing to face a 100% new opponent. It's a bit of an event for Coubertin fans, who already experienced it a few weeks ago when they hosted Fredericia (38-30). The Danes may be the newcomers to this 2024-2025 edition, but the Lisbon outfit are far more experienced on the continental stage and will not be taken lightly, as their solid start to the season shows.

5 - To follow the match

Throw-off: 20:45 at Stade Pierre de Coubertin

Television: Eurosport

Social networks: Live-Tweet

(Credits: L. Valroff/PSG)