Preview: 5 things about Plock - Paris

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After an intense group stage campaign, Paris Saint-Germain Handball enter the EHF Champions League knockout rounds with a play-off clash against Wisla Plock. We take a look at this potentially perilous trip to Poland...

1 - FORM

Having booked their place in the knockout rounds of the competition on the very last matchday with a hard-fought 29-28 victory over Porto, Wisla Plock rounded off a serious and successful group stage in the best possible way. Over the last few months, the Blue and Whites have caused an upset on several occasions, including against Veszprém (37-30) and at GOG (32-32). However, things were looking bleak for the Poles, who began their European adventure with five consecutive defeats and just two points from the first half of the campaign. In the league, Plock saw their unbeaten run come to an end last week when they lost 29-34 at home to arch-rivals Kielce, thereby relinquishing their top spot.

For their part, Les Rouge et Bleu are not slowing down in the second half of the season. While the capital club failed to finish in the top two positions in the group stage, third place was splendidly secured at the expense of Kielce, thanks in no small part to an emphatic win over the Poles at Coubertin on Matchday 12 (35-26). On the domestic front, the Parisians booked their place in the Coupe de France final with a 35-32 win over Montpellier, and are also in fine form at the top of the league standings, five points clear of nearest chasers Nantes.

2 - KEY STATS

Although they both qualified for the last 16 of the EHF Champions League, Paris and Plock had very different group stage campaigns, however, and have key differences in a number of areas - particularly in terms of attacking output and defensive efficiency. While the capital club had the fourth-best attack in the competition (431 goals), the Poles had great difficulty converting their chances. Only Pelister (333 goals) scored fewer goals than the Blue and Whites, who struck 373 times.

However, while Plock lacked goalscoring ability, their excellent rearguard - the third-strongest in the group stage with just 386 goals conceded - helped the Poles stay afloat and book their place in the last 16 at the last minute. Against Montpellier in particular, Xavier Sabate's men put in a splendid defensive display to record a memorable victory (22-18). The Parisians, meanwhile, rank tenth on the defensive chart with 412 goals conceded.

3 - THE OTHER MATCHES IN THE ROUND OF 16

While Kiel, Aalborg, Barcelona and Magdeburg have all booked their places in the quarter-finals of the EHF Champions League, twelve teams have to go through the play-off round. In addition to the capital club, Montpellier will also represent France when they take on Zagreb. Reigning double finalists Kielce will have to overcome GOG to stay in the competition, while in a repeat of last season's Round of 16, Veszprém will take on rivals Szeged in a clash of two Hungarian giants.

4 - HEAD TO HEAD

This first-leg play-off between Les Rouge et Bleu and Wisla Plock will be the seventh meeting between the two sides. So far, the capital club have won all their meetings with the Poles. In their first-ever clash with the Poles in the EHF Champions League finals, Raul Gonzalez's men will be looking to maintain their perfect record and put themselves in the best possible frame of mind ahead of the return leg at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Thursday 4 April.

5 - TO FOLLOW THE MATCH

Throw-off: 20:45

Television: Eurosport

Social networks: Live-tweet

(Credits: L. Valroff/A. Meunier/Team Pics/GettyImages/PSG)