Preview: PSG Handball - Montpellier

News

On Thursday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball turn their attentions to a new competition, playing host to rivals Montpellier in the Coupe de la Ligue quarter-finals at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin!

One step from the Final4
The challenge will be simple for both teams: qualify for the Final4, which will be held at the Antarès in Le Mans on 14 and 15 March 2020. In case of qualification, the capital club would be participating for the sixth time in this event. It should also be noted that Paris have won the last three editions of the competition, against Nantes (31-27 in 2017), Toulouse (40-30 in 2018) and against Montpellier (31-25 earlier this year), last season. For their part, Montpellier team have reached the semi-finals four times since the introduction of this format in the 2011-2012 edition. Historically, they are the team that has lifted the trophy the most, with ten titles between 2004 and 2016.

History
This is the first time that Paris and Montpellier have been pitted against each other at this stage of the competition. But this heavyweight clash is not a first in the Coupe de la Ligue - the sides have met in the final before - twice - with the record at one win apiece. The first win was clinched by Patrice Canayer's men, who won this duel in 2016 in their Sud de France Arena (26-31). Raul Gonzalez's side took revenge last season, at the Antares, thanks in particular to a nine-goal haul from Uwe Gensheimer.

Two teams in good shape
This quarter-final has all the allure of a final, with two of France's Velux EHF Champions League representatives - who currently occupy the top two spots in the Lidl StarLigue standings - doing battle. While both were beaten in their most recent European outings (MHB in Kiel, 33-32, Paris against Barcelona, 32-35), their form is still very positive. Les Rouge et Bleu are dominating in the Lidl StarLigue, with 11 wins from as many matches. Beaten at Coubertin in Round 9, the Montpelliérains sit second, six points behind the first place, level on points with Nantes, Nîmes and Toulouse.

A look back at previous matches
This will be the third time that Paris and Montpellier have competed against each other this season. In particular, they opened the 2019-20 season with the Trophée des Champions final on 31 August at the Palais des Sports in Beaublanc, Limoges. To win (34-27), Paris Saint-Germain Handball was able to rely on Mikkel Hansen's 11 goals, but also on 17 saves from Vincent Gérard (elected MVP of the match), who was playing his first match for his new club after leaving Montpellier a few months earlier. Our team won once again on November 14, in Lidl StarLigue Round 9 (35-30). This time, Icelandic international Gudjon Sigurdsson was the most successful, scoring seven goals.

To follow the match (kick-off at 20:45)
- Television: beIN SPORTS 1
- At the Stade Pierre de Coubertin: get your tickets on our official website
- Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)