Preview: PSG Handball - Nîmes

News

On Wednesday night, Paris Saint-Germain Handball return to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin for the first time since being crowned Champions of France. Their Lidl Starligue Round 24 clash pits them against Nîmes, who are having an excellent season.

Europe in the bag

Despite their home defeat to Montpellier (24-25) in their last Lidl Starligue outing, Nîmes are assured of a place in European competition next season. Three matches from the end of the 2018-19 campaign, The Green Team sit fifth on the table with a ten-point lead over nearest chasers Aix. While second place, currently occupied by Montpellier, three points ahead, Nîmes can still break into the top three with a win over Paris should Chambéry and Nantes (whom Nîmes beat 33-36 in Nantes two weeks ago) slip up.

Desbonnet/Sanad: key elements

After finishing eighth last season, Franck Maurice's side have been one of the revelations of the current campaign and are certain to do better this time around - they already have seven more points than they totalled last season. This excellent form has come in no small part thanks to Rémy Desbonnet, who boasts the league's second-highest save tally this season (236), and Mohammad Sanad, the Egyptian right-winger who sits third on the league's scoring chart with 140 goals to his name.

Two prolific attacks

However, Sanad isn't the only Nîmes player to have terrorised opposition defences this season: Elohim Prandi (99 goals) and Micke Brasseleur (69), also feature in the Lidl Starligue scoring chart's top 40. Thus it's no surprise to see that Nîmes boast the division's fifth-best attack, with 664 goals in total, but this is an area where Paris Saint-Germain Handball also have something to say! Thanks notably to 122 goals from Mikkel Hansen, 115 from Nedim Remili and 96 Uwe Gensheimer, no side has outscored Les Rouge et Bleu this camoaign (746). So it seems that there is a high-scoring match in the offing - unless Paris Saint-Germain Handball's defence, the second-tightest in the league (584 goals conceded), get the upper hand.

A look back at the first match

After a perfect start to the season, with three wins in as many matches, Paris Saint-Germain Handball travelled to Parnasse to take on Nîmes (who were also three from three) in late September. As is often the case in that arena, it was an intense encounter, with ten players (four for Nîmes and six for Paris Saint-Germain Handball) earning temporary send-offs. In terms of the scoreline, neither side could maintain the upper hand and, after yo-yoing for most of the 60 minutes (55’: 26-25 ; 58’: 27-28) the match ended honours-even on 28 goals apiece. Desbonnet notably made 13 saves for Les Verts that day, while Nedim struck nine times for Les Rouge et Bleu.

To follow the match (throw-off at 20:45)

• Television: beIN SPORTS 1

• At the Stade Pierre de Coubertin: get tickets on our official website

• Live tweet: Our official page

(Crédits : J.Azouze/PSG)