Preview: Chambéry - PSG Handball

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Freshly crowned with a third consecutive Coupe de la Ligue, Paris Saint-Germain Handball return to action in the Lidl Starligue - where they continue to dominate - in Round 18 action away to Chambéry on Thursday evening.

Top of the table 

CSHB were in unbeatable form early on in the season and quickly took top spot on the Lidl Starligue table. No club seemed able to resist them in the first six rounds, and although they drew at home to Saint-Raphaël (31-31), they got right back to work and clinched a previous win in Nantes the following week (29-33). Since December, things have been tougher for Erick Mathé's side: they have conceded four defeats in their last seven outings and currently sit in fifth, with 25 points, three points below the podium.

Attacking forces

While the club from the Savoy region remain solid in defence (see below) they also have several excellent goalscorers. The most notable of these is well known in the capital, having played for Les Rouge et Bleu for three seasons: Fahrudin Melic. At 34, Mela is one of the division's top five scorers, his 101 goals also making him his club's top scorer in front of Alejandro Costoya (67) and youth academy products Alexandre Tritta (43) Johannes Marescot (41).

Immovable object vs unstoppable force

There could well be a cataclysmic clash on Thursday night - not in terms of league rankings, but rather in terms of stats as the competition's top defence meets its most prolific attack. Chambéry 'keeper Yann Genty has played a key role in his side's defensive record - they have conceded just 423 goals so far this season - with a league-high 216 saves that has left the competition - notably nearest rival Rémy Desbonnet (169 saves) - in the dust. He will, however, have his work cut out against the Parisian armada who, led by the back-line duo of Mikkel Hansen (95 goals) and Nedim Remili (85), have  struck 542 times this season - more than any other side in the division.

A look back at the first match

Just before the end of 2018, a decidedly in-form Chambéry side made the trip north to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. At that point of the season, the Savoy side had won ten of their matches (one loss, one draw), and they posed the capital club plenty of problems in the early stages. Genty was key, ending the match with 15 saves, but in the end, Uwe Gensheimer's clinical finishing (7 from 7) made the difference and our side ran away with it as the end approached.

To follow the match (Throw-off at 20:45)

• Television: beIN SPORTS 1

• Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)