Preview: Cesson - PSG Handball

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On Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball travel to Brittany to take on in-form side Cesson-Rennes in their Round 11 Lidl Starligue clash.

Beat the drop

After beating relegation by just a single point last season, Cesson-Rennes look set to ensure their survival much earlier this time around. With three wins and seven points (a five-point lead over the drop zone) to their name already, the Brittany side been collecting points at crucial moments, trumping relegation rivals Istres (26-30), Ivry (26-23) and Pontault-Combault (22-17). They even went close to shocking last season's European runners-up Nantes, where a draw was long on the cards before Kiril Lazarov dashed their hopes six seconds from time (29-28).

Acquevillo: a menace up front

At 29 years of age, Jean-Jacques Acquevillo is currently enjoying his best-ever start to a season in France's top flight. Cesson-Rennes' left-back sits seventh on the scorers chart with 50 goals in nine matches, having made a number of defences struggle to contain his power. He notably fired 11 goals past the Ivry defence, but has also done well against the 'bigger' teams, claiming eight-goal hauls against both Nantes and Montpellier. Unfortunately, his attacking teammates have struggled to keep pace, and the side have just the tenth-best attack in the Lidl Starligue.

Lettens: key defender 

At the other end of the court, another player has been shining: Belgian 'keeper Jef Lettens. With 70 saves in open play and three from penalty throws, the 28-year-old 'keeper is in the top ten on the saves rankings. He was notably influential in his side's win over Pontault, saving 12 from 28. Despite the fact that Cesson lost to Saint-Raphaël and Dunkerque. It was against these sides that Lettens pulled out his best performances, making 13 saves on each occasion, underlining his key role in Christian Gaudin's side boasting the sixth-best defence in the division.

Our key stats

In third place with a match in hand over the two sides in front of them, Paris Saint-Germain Handball could end the Lidl Starligue's Round 11 on top of the table. For that to happen, the Les Rouge et Bleu would need claim victory in Rennes and hope that Nantes stumble away to Saint-Raphaël and that Chambéry fall against Montpellier on Thursday night. The capital club would thus go top thanks to their impressive league-high goal difference (+59). Indeed, with the Lidl Starligue's best attack (291 goals) and the fourth-tightest defence (232 goals conceded), Raul Gonzalez's men are shining in every domain.

To follow the match (Throw-off at 20:15)


• Television: Not broadcast


• Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)