Preview: PSG Handball - Nîmes

News

On Thursday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball will take part in the Lidl StarLigue Round 18 action, facing the perennial quality of Nîmes in what promise to be an interesting match.

Top-of-the-table clash
After drawing away to second-placed Nantes last week (29-29), Les Rouge et Bleu are in for another high-octane Lidl Star League clash this week as they take on third-placed Nîmes. The Green Team, who like Paris represent France on the European stage (second in Group B of the EHF Cup), are on tear in the league, having strung together four wins. Heading into Round 18, seven points separate Nîmes from the Parisians, who top the table thanks to their 16 wins and just one draw.

Paris facing Prandi
On Thursday evening, Coubertin's audience will pay particular attention to one of the opposing players. Firstly, because he is the top scorer in his team with 88 goals (sixth on the scoring chart), but also because he will be wearing the Parisian jersey in a few months' time. Indeed, 21-year-old left-back Elohim Prandi has signed for the capital club and will join as of this coming summer. In his final season with Nîmes, the young French international continues to shine in terms of power and efficiency. Last October, Toulouse were particularly hard hit by Prandi, who bagged a personal-best ten-goal haul.

A look back at the first match
At the beginning of October, in Round 5, Paris Saint-Germain Handball travelled to the Parnasse, where they had not won in three years. Raul Gonzalez's men overcame the odds to win the match convincingly on Nîmes' tufr (28-31). Vincent Gérard's ten saves and Nedim Remili's ten goals are particularly well remembered. Historically, at Coubertin, our team have clocked ten victories for only three defeats when faced with Nîmes (conceded in 2006, 2008 and 2011). More generally, Paris dominates the overall head-to-head record, with a record of 18 wins for two draws and seven defeats.

Key stats
We should see a lot of goals in this game! Indeed, it will see two of the league's best attacks face off in a firing contest. The visitors will look to the duo of Prandi and Mohammad Sanad (83 goals), whose goals have helped make them the third-most prolific attack in the Lidl StarLigue (519). In this field, Paris are ahead of everyone with 597 goals. Defensively, Nîmes are doing lightly ahead, with 466 goals conceded in comparison to Paris' 469. Les Rouge et Bleu will therefore need to be very effective offensively in order to get the better of Rémi Desbonnet. The USAM keeper (who has just extended his contract) currently tops the goal-keeping chart with 173 saves.

To follow the game (kick-off at 8:45 p.m.)
- Television: beIN SPORTS 3
- At the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium: get your tickets on our official website
- Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)