Preview: 5 things about Saran - Paris

Avant-match

Paris Saint-Germain handball return to Coupe de France action on Wednesday with a short trip to Saran. Relegated to the second division at the end of last season, the side from the Loire Valley are nonetheless a tricky team. Let's take a look at the fixture!

1 - An ambitious team

Relegated on the final day of last season following a cruel home defeat to Ivry, Saran are now rebuilding in the second division. The Loire Valley outfit have a clear objective: to fight their way back into the top flight. After a shaky start to the season, with four defeats in their first seven games, they have looked more like potential title contenders since the first international break. Now on a run of five consecutive wins, Saran have climbed up to fifth in the standings - a virtual guarantee of qualification for the promotion play-offs. Les Rouge et Bleu can therefore expect to face a tough opponent with a number of quality players.

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2 - A strong, experienced squad

The unfortunate outcome of last season has not prevented the Septors from maintaining a solid backbone. In particular, they have managed to retain a number of key players such as Luka Radovic and Pau Oliveras, as well as a name well known to fans of the capital club: William Accambray. The former Parisian (2014-2017) is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, finishing as Saran's top scorer with 120 goals. This already robust squad has been bolstered by the headline-catching arrival of Antonin Mohamed, a key figure at Ivry and a proven goalscorer for several seasons now. The right winger is coming off three consecutive campaigns with at least 130 goals to his name and adds real attacking power to a squad that already had plenty of it. Saran can also look forward to the arrival on loan of promising youngster Alban Simonnet from Nantes. At just 20 years of age, the centre-half has already scored 28 goals in just six matches. It's a return to his roots for the man who came up through the Septors' youth system and was looking to increase his game time.

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3 - HEAD TO HEAD

Alternating between the first and second divisions over the last decade, Saran have already crossed paths with the capital club on nine occasions. With nine wins to their name, eight of them by a margin of at least seven goals, Les Rouge et Bleu have rarely been outdone by the Septors. Notably, Saran faced Paris in the Coupe de France last season, at this same stage of the competition. At Coubertin, Raul Gonzalez's men put on a real show out-gunning their opponents 44-27 to book a place in the quarter-finals.

4 - Round of 16 fixtures

In addition to Saran, two other Proligue sides are in the running for a place in the last eight. Angers and Dijon, who beat Ivry and Créteil respectively in the first round, will be looking for a repeat performance against Limoges and Saint-Raphaël. A few days before Sunday's clash with Raul Gonzalez's men Nantes travel to Istres. Meanwhile, Montpellier travel to Nîmes' Parnasse for what promises to be an intense derby, while Dunkerque host Toulouse on Wednesday evening.

5 - To follow the match

Throw-off: 20:00

Streaming: HandballTV

Social networks: live-tweet

(Credits: L. Valroff/PSG)