Preview: Kielce - PSG Handball

News

On Saturday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball do battle in the first leg of their Velux EHF Champions League quarter-final tie (the return leg to be played on 5 May) after qualifying directly from the group stage by topping Group B. As was the case last season, Les Rouge et Bleu travel to Poland's Hala M.O.S.I.R. to take on Kielce.

Kielce's run so far

The Poles had a tough task in Group A, which was filled with impressive clubs. However, they rose to the occasion and did extremely well, finishing behind giants Barcelona, Veszprém and Vardar Skopje, with seven wins and as many defeats. That was enough for Filip Ivic and his teammates to finish fourth and qualify for the round of 16, where they faced Zaporozhye. After conceding a late draw in the first leg in Ukraine (33-33), the 2016 champions punched their ticket for the quarters with a solid win at home (34-29).

Dujshebaev = danger!

Their winning through to face Paris came thanks in no small part to the excellent Alex Dujshebaev. The son of Kielce coach Talant Dujshebaev, Alex was one of the main drivers of his side's win over Zaporozhye with 14 goals over the two legs. The Spain international is the competition's highest scorer still in action (the top four have all been eliminated), having scored ten goals or more on three occasions (away to Veszprém, in Montpellier and at home to Meshkov Brest). But he isn't the only yellow and blue player with an eye for goal: young Slovenian right-winger Blaz Janc boasts a handy 59 goals in the competition this season.

The last quarter-final

One year ago, after they had clashed in the group stage (two wins for Paris, 33-28 and 29-30), Kielce and Les Rouge et Bleu faced off in the quarters. Our players turned in two superb performances and were practically qualified after the first half of the first leg, in Poland. Firing on all cylinders, Thierry Omeyer and his teammates were twelve goals up at the break (10-22) and went on to win 28-34. A week later, at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin they finished the job 35-32 and booked their place at the Final4.

Key stats

Raul Gonzalez's men return to European action two months after their last outing. Since then - Barcelona aside - all the pother teams have played two extra matches. Thus it's fairly logical that Paris boast the competition's stingiest defence, with 385 goals conceded (391 for Barça). But in attack they are also in fine fettle, their 455 goals scored keeping them above Vardar (449), Flensburg (370) and Szeged (442), but just behind   Veszprém (447), all of whom contested the round of 16. Meanwhile, Kielce have a goal difference of +14, with 492 goals conceded and 506 scored.

To follow the match (Throw-off at 18:00 CET)


• Television: beIN SPORTS 1


• Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)