Victory - and a record
The context:
On Sunday afternoon, Paris Saint-Germain Handball returned to the European stage after two-week absence. In Velux EHF Champions League Matchday 4 action, Les Rouge et Bleu - winners of their first three matches - played host to Celje. The Slovenians were on zero points as they headed to the French capital, but had nonetheless shown plenty of quality in their early-season outings.
The match:
At the beginning of the match, the defences had the upper hand over the attacks, and thus only two goals were scored in the first five minutes (5': 1-1). Although Paris took the lead thanks to the young Sadou N'tanzi, inaccuracy and errors still dictated the rhythm of a game that was anything but prolific (9': 2-1). Strong starts from both the goalkeepers, Klemen Ferlin (for Celje) and Rodrigo Corrales, did not help either (12': 2-2). However, Nedim Remili, who conjured a no-look pass to set Adama Keita up for a kung-fu (15': 4-2), and Nikola Karabatic, who managed a superb schwenker to make the break, got Coubertin warmed up (18': 5-3). Although the match remained tight (25': 9-8), Niko's hammer shot into the top corner on the buzzer saw Raul Gonzalez's men go into the break with a modest lead (30': 13-11).
After the break, both sides continued to struggle to find the net, but Celje managed to level it up relatively quickly (33': 13-13). This equaliser served as a wake-up call for Les Rouge et Bleu, who immediately stepped on the gas and raced to a four-point lead for the first time in the match as Vincent GĂ©rard provided an assist for Gudjon Sigurdsson (36': 17-13). While the Parisian 'keeper racked up the saves, his attacking team-mates started to hit their straps and got the home side further in front (39': 18-13). Even when this attacking upturn slowed, Vincent still stood out, stopping a penalty (44': 19-16). His strong performance saw the Parisian rear-guard shut up shop, allowing the attackers to get to work (52': 25-17). In the final minutes, Paris further increased their lead and confirmed the win as Vincent saved one last penalty (27-18).
The Parisian of the match: Vincent GĂ©rard
Vincent GĂ©rard came on in the second half and turned in a superb performance. The French international posed plenty of problems for Celje's attack, shutting out the visiting attack for long periods. In the process, he saved two penalties and provided several assist for his team-mates. A stunning performance from our goalkeeper!
The word: Record
After having equalled the longest unbeaten run at home in all competitions (level with Montpellier) in the win over Chambéry on Thursday (31-28), Paris Saint-Germain Handball made the record their own thanks to this win over the Slovenians. The capital club have now gone 51 matches unbeaten at home in all competitions - a record no other French club can boast.
Coming up:
With four wins from four in the Champions League, Les Rouge et Bleu continue to make their mark on the European stage. They will try to do parlay that success back onto the domestic scene on Wednesday, when they travel to early-season revelations Ivry in Lidl StarLigue Round 5 action.
(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)