Preview: Heading for the Côte d'Opale - a look at Dunkerque - Paris

News

In the space of a week, Paris Saint-Germain handball have returned to the Coupe de France and the EHF Champions League, with mixed results. Now it's time to return to league duties, where Paris continue their title defence. On Liqui Moly StarLigue Matchday 16, our Parisians head north to Dunkerque.

Differing objectives

After a difficult start to the season, with eight defeats in the first twelve games, Dunkerque regained their confidence just before the international break. The team from the North of France won three games in a row, against Cesson-Rennes (32-33), Istres (28-26) and Ivry (22-26) to inject some hope into their bid to beat the drop. Now six points clear of the relegation zone, Franck Maurice's men can look to the future with more optimism.

For their part, the capital club put on a show against Saint-Raphaël to end 2024 (41-34). There was a festive atmosphere both on and off the court, with the inaugural Bodega of Paris Saint-Germain Handball taking place. It was the perfect opportunity for the capital club to bounce back after conceding their first league defeat of the season a week earlier in Nantes (34-31). Our Rouge et Bleu thus went into the winter break in second place, level on points with The H, who top the table on head-to-head goal difference alone.

Action on all fronts during the break

Like the capital club, Dunkerque took advantage of the international break to fine-tune its squad for next season. Tarik Hayatoune, currently Franck Maurice's assistant but the club's head coach as of next season, was satisfied with the northern club's three winter window signings. In addition to Matthieu Marmier from Toulouse and Porto centre half Diogo Oliveira, USDK has been boosted by the arrival of a name well known to Coubertin supporters: former Parisian Ludwig Appolinaire. The Lions were also active on the sporting front, competing in two preparatory tournaments. Franck Maurice's men shone in particular against Irun Bidasoa (41-29) and Porto (37-28).

Tom Pelayo against Kamil Syprzak: Sharpshooters face off

As has often been the case in recent seasons of the Liqui Moly StarLigue, Tom Pelayo and Kamil Syprzak are engaged in a pitched battle for the title of league top scorer. While our centre-half finished four goals ahead of his counterpart last season (with 220 goals to his name), the Dunkerque right-back is in the lead at the halfway stage of the current campaign. Slowed down by an injury earlier this season, Kamil is now ready to face one of his favourite prey once again. With 20 goals in 20 attempts across the two matches against the Nordists last season, the Polish international was ruthless.

Key stats...

  • 17: Our Rouge et Bleu are on a run of 17 consecutive victories against Dunkerque in the league.
  • 699: Mathieu Grébille has scored 699 league goals in his career. He could well reach a new milestone with Rouge et Bleu in Dunkirk.
  • 14: In 2022, Elohim Prandi found the net 14 times away to Dunkerque (32-38) in whatremains his most prolific league perofrmance.

(Credits: L. Valroff/PSG)