Preview: Keep the pressure on - a look at Saint-Raphaël-Paris

News

On Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain handball travel to Saint-Raphaël for Liqui Moly StarLigue Matchday 18. Find out all you need to know about the match, including current form, head to head records and each side's biggest strengths.

Saint-Raphaël gunning for Europe

Currently fourth on the Liqui Moly StarLigue table, SRVHB are more than ever in the running to qualify for continental competition for the first time since 2018. Neck and neck with Toulouse, the side from Provençe intend to capitalise on their current good form and give Les Rouge et Bleu a hard time. Since the championship resumed, Saint-Raphaël have shown rigour and discipline to clinch important victories against Istres (31-30) and Cesson-Rennes (29-39). Benjamin Braux's men will welcome their Parisian counterparts with confidence and determination, a week after recording their biggest victory of the season in Brittany.

So, Paris have been warned. Their busy calendar is taxing to say the least, and this will be just the first match of a week that could define Les Rouge et Bleus' season. After the match in Saint-Raphaël, Thursday will see the side jet off for North Macedonia to take on Pelister with the aim of clinching second place in Group A (direct qualification for the EHF Champions League quarter-finals), before the top-of-the-table clash at Coubertin against Nantes on Sunday. In both in France and in Europe, the capital club are putting up a strong fight: by beating Aix in a rain of goals at Coubertin last week (37-34), Raul Gonzalez's men returned to winning ways in the league after the draw in Dunkerque (27-27).

Danger in all areas of the game

Saint-Raphaël have many quality options both in attack and defence. Offensively, the men from Provence can count on the effectiveness of Raphaël Caucheteux, who has no fewer than 94 goals to his name this season. The veteran left-winger (39 years old and top scorer in the history of the championship with 2,571 goals) even leads the standings for goals from 7-metre throws, with 52 to his credit. The Parisians have been warned: they will need to be solid in defence to contain SRVHB's attacks. At the same time, Les Rouge et Bleus' artillerymen will have to be uncompromising in attack so as not to give Alexandre Demaille confidence. With a 23-save haul against Chambéry a few months ago, Demaille holds the single-match saves record in the top flight this season.

Key stats...

  • 595. With 595 goals scored this season, the capital club are set to break the 600-goal mark when they take on Saint-Raphaël, a milestone that reinforces Les Rouge et Bleus' status as the best offensive force in France.
  • 35. On Sunday, Paris will face Saint-Raphaël for the 35th time in its history. Les Rouge et Bleu boast a clear head-to-head advantage over the Provençaux, with 26 wins to eight defeats.
  • 10. The capital club have won their last ten matches against SRVHB. The most recent was last December at Coubertin (41-34).
  • 149. With 149 assists to his name, Luc Steins is the Liqui Moly StarLigue's assists leader - by a long way. Our centre half is 37 lengths ahead of Dorde Dekic (Créteil), his nearest pursuer.

(Credits: E. Renard/Team Pics/PSG).