Preview: Nîmes - PSG Handball

News

On Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball travel to Nîmes' Parnasse arena, where they tasted defeat last season. With both sides off to a perfect league start, this match promises to be a high-level clash.

A perfect start to the season
As they did last season, USAM have gotten off to flying start in the Lidl StarLigue in 2018-2019. They are one of five clubs (along with Nantes, Montpellier, Chambéry and Paris) to have won all three of their matches. This strong run includes their opening-day derby win over Saint-Raphaël, which featured a ten-goal haul from Mohammad Hisham Sanad (25-26), followed by victories over Cesson-Rennes (24-19) and promoted Pontault-Combault (27-31). Ahead of their match on Wednesday, Nîmes sit in fourth place with a goal difference of +10.

 

Rémi Desbonnet still on point
Franck Maurice's men owe these excellent results to some superb defending - their back-line currently sit third on the defensive table having conceded just 71 goals in three matches (23 per match on average). As such, it's not surprising to see that Rémi Desbonnet has made the most saves of any Lidl StarLigue 'keeper so far this season (36). Nîmes last rampart looks determined to continue his strong form from last season - in style - as his spectacular save against Pontault suggested. Desbonnet made no fewer than 19 saves in that match.

 

Savvy signings
After a strong showing last season (finishing eighth in the Lidl StarLigue after an excellent first half of the season and reaching the Coupe de France final against the Rouge et Bleu) Nîmes bolstered their squad in the off-season with a view to doing even better. Shopping exclusively at other Lidl StarLigue clubs, they signed former Parisian Dylan Garain, who bagged 32 goals in 2017-2018 with Dunkerque before injuring his knee. Pivot Nicolas Nieto, 26, also arrived from Dunkerque, while Mike Brasseleur (Ivry top scorer with 102 goals last season) rounded out the arrivals. Meanwhile, Asgeir Orn Hallgrimsson, Tomi Vozab and Hichem Kaabeche left the club.

 

Our key stats
Paris Saint-Germain Handball are enjoying an excellent start to the season on both the domestic and continental stages. With three wins from three matches (Ivry 38-21, Istres 24-31 and Saint-Raphaël 32-29), Raul Gonzalez's men sit in top spot on the Lidl StarLigue table (thanks to a goal difference of +27) as well as boasting the most prolific attack (101 goals) and the fourth-best defence (74). On an individual level, Uwe Gensheimer is in the top ten on the scoring chart with 15 goals despite having played a match fewer than his opponents. Meanwhile, Thierry Omeyer sits in fifth place in terms of saves made, wit h26 (37%).

 

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

(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)