Preview: PSG Handball - Dunkerque

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On Saturday afternoon, Paris Saint-Germain Handball begin their Coupe de la Ligue title defence with the visit of Dunkerque at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin.

Strong start
Dunkerque's early-season Lidl StarLigue fixture list hasn't been an easy one, with clashes against Nantes, Chambéry and Montpellier all coming in the first five rounds. Although the Yellow and Blacks have fallen on each of these occasions, they have never been far off scoring an upset. Indeed, only Chambéry have beaten Dunkerque by a two-goal margin (25-23), with The H (20-19) and MHB (25-24) having to battle hard to get the narrowest of wins. Despite these three defeats, Dunkerque sit seventh on the Lidl StarLigue table, boasting the division's stingiest defence. (168 goals conceded in seven matches).

 

First-round success
While the capital club are making their entry into the competition in this round, the USDK have already won through the round of 32. In the beginning of September, they travelled to the Palais des Sports Roubron in Créteil to take on the local side. After falling behind in the first half (23’: 14-11), Patrick Cazal's men got the job done in the second (25-31), thanks in no small part to Florian Billant's eight-goal haul as well as some excellent 'keeping.

 

One to watch: Samir Bellahcene
Among the northern club's summer signings, ex-Montpellier man Samir Bellahcene stands out. On loan at Massy last season, the 'keeper posed our forwards plenty of problems in the Lidl StarLigue, making 19 saves (at 42%) when the sides clashed. He couldn't stave off defeat, however (24-27). Against Créteil, in the round of 32, he was once again decisive, his 18 saves putting him at the top of the competition's 'keeper rankings.

 

Two-time reigning champs
Les Rouge et Bleu head into this round of 16 clash as reigning two-time champions, having beaten Toulouse 40-30 in last season's final to defend the crown they won a year earlier with a 31-27 win over Nantes in Reims. On that day, Paris Saint-Germain Handball made history by winning the first Coupe de la Ligue in the club's history, and as of Saturday they will be looking to make it three in a row!

 

To follow the match (throw-off at 17:00)

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)