Preview: Toulouse - PSG Handball

News

After the Coupe de France win away to Ajaccio (25-39), Paris Saint-Germain Handball return to Lidl StarLigue action on Thursday evening. They will have to be very solid if they are to continue their flawless league run as they travel to Toulouse's Palais des Sports André Brouat for their Round 14 clash.

Top-of-the-table clash
The Parisians' frantic pace in February (five away games) is matched by the quality of their opponents this month. Indeed, apart from European matches, Les Rouge et Bleus will travel to Nantes (second), Aix (sixth) and Toulouse, who occupy fifth place. With 18 points from 13 games, the Fenix are just five points off their total from the entirety of last season. This year they have had some very good results, including a convincing 26-34 win in Nantes.

Danger in every position
That Philippe Gardent's men are doing such a great job owes plenty to having talented players in all areas. Starting with Belgian international 'keeper Jef Lettens, who arrived from Cesson in the summer. He currently sits sixth on the saves chart with 101, while Luc Steins (50 goals) leads the front-line. The pocket-sized centre-half (1m73) was voted best player of the month in October. On the wing, they have the future Parisian - and club top-scorer with 67 goals - Ferran Solé Sala (who will be replaced by Edouard Kempf next season). Sala has just been crowned European champion with Spain. In this non-exhaustive list, we can add Nemanja Ilic, Pierrick Chelle or Gaël Tribillon.

A look back at the first match
This is the second time this season that Toulouse and Paris have faced each other. The first round took place at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin at the end of September. To get the better of their opponents (34-28), once again led by Steins (6 from 6) and Sole Sala (4 from 6), the capital club had the strength of their rear-guard (seven goals for Nedim Remili, six for Kim Ekdahl du Rietz), but also on the 14 parries of Vincent Gerard, to thank. Historically, in the league, our team has won 23 league games, with two draws and four defeats against the Hauts-Garonnais. It has won nine consecutive clashes since March 4, 2015 and has shared the points with the Blue and White once (29-29). The two sides will meet again on 14 March in Le Mans for the semi-final of the Coupe de la Ligue Final4.

Key stats
Thursday night's duel promises to be a prolific one, pitting two of Lidl StarLigue's best attacking lines against each other. Fenix are the league's fifth-best attack, with 376 goals scored, while Les Rouge et Bleu top the table with 455 goals scored in 13 games. Both clubs are among the most clinical in the league, with strike rate of 65% for Toulouse and 67% for Raul Gonzalez's men. Defensively, the teams are also very close to each other: only four conceded goals separate the Toulouse rear-guard (362) from that of Paris Saint-Germain Handball (358).

To follow the game (throw-off at 20:45 CET)
- Television: beIN SPORTS 1
- Live tweet: our official page

(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)