Preview: 5 things about Zagreb - Paris

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After a two-month break for the 2023 World Cup, the EHF Champions League is back! On Wednesday afternoon, Paris Saint-Germain Handball travel to Zagreb for Group A's Matchday 11.

1 - THE TABLE

The Croatian side were in a bad way at the beginning of the campaign, with only one victory in the first phase, but they seem to have righted the ship! In addition to having extricated themselves from the drop zone (ahead of which they now have a three-point lead), they managed to topple leaders Veszprém 29-26, and have now gone three games in a row without defeat.

Despite their defeat against Magdeburg just before the break (33-37), Les Rouge et Bleu are still in the race for the top two places in the group, which qualify directly for the quarter-finals. They are equal on points with Veszprém, but have an inferior goal difference (the second leg will take place on the last day). They also have a two-point lead over the Germans of Magdeburg (third in the group) and the advantage in the double-header (+3 in both matches).

2 - DANGER MEN

Although our upcoming opponents are in the lower part of the table, they nonetheless have some very talented players. One of them is the very experienced Timur Dibirov. The 39-year-old left winger is currently his team's top scorer with 49 goals. We will also have to be wary of Ivan Cupic, who won three Champions League titles between 2016 and 2019!

3 - SOME STATISTICS 

After ten games, the Parisian attack is still shining. It is currently the sharpest offensive line in the competition, with 357 goals scored (at 74%), thanks in particular to the 71 goals from Champions League top scorer Kamil Syprzak. Zagreb are second from last in this respect, with 280.

Defensively, the Croatians are much better, with only 295 goals conceded. All groups combined, only Veszprém (293) and Barcelona (291) have done better. We should therefore see a scintillating duel in front of the Zagreb goal. Note that the Parisian defence has conceded 322 times.

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4 - HEAD TO HEAD 

Zagreb and Paris are facing each other for the eleventh time in the competition. At the moment, the capital club are on top with eight wins, one draw and one defeat. We remember, for example, the victorious quarter-final in 2016, which allowed Les Rouge et Bleu to participate in the first EHF Final4 in club history.

5 - TO FOLLOW THE MATCH

Throw-off: 18:45
Television: Eurosport
Social networks: Live-tweet

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