France - LNH Proligue, Round 27

GRAND BESANÇON DOUBS HANDBALL VS SÉLESTAT ALSACE HANDBALL 19/04/2024 - 8:30 PM

Wingers on the move
Only 4 matchdays left before the playoffs. That's what the people of Besançon would hope for. Unfortunately, they have drifted a bit. Currently 7th with 23 points, they are 3 points away from the playoffs and the sixth, which is Cherbourg. So, they still have hope even though the cards are not in their hands. They face Sélestat who are sure to be there and should finish 4th. They are coming off a huge performance against Sarrebourg, a team in form. But they beat them 37 to 23. It's fair to say that the young players of Sélestat have shown all their potential and their ability to compete for promotion during the playoffs. Although inconsistent, they have the ability to beat all their future opponents and move up to Starligue. That's all we wish for them. For that, they need to continue to prepare, and an encounter against Besançon is interesting.

Sélestat should take the upper hand in defense. Against a team that struggles to play on the wings, Sélestat will continue, as usual, to densify the center of their defense. They need to manage the speed and anticipation of the crosses and often the well- executed doubles by Besançon. But against them, the defense will be tightened, leading to shots towards the wings, where their goalkeepers excel. Mathis Beauchef on his right wing and Gauthier Morvan on his left wing should have more opportunities than usual. Even though Mathis continues to be successful, being the 4th top scorer of Proligue mainly thanks to fast breaks. However, we see the two left wingers struggling with shots against the Sélestat goalkeeper. Besançon should still score, perhaps with the help of Martin Petiot from a distance, but they are expected to score less than 26 goals.

This will allow Sélestat to control the game and win with a score around 31 to 26. Besançon could therefore bid farewell to the playoffs as soon as Friday and finish their season in cruise control. However, beware if their overmotivation doesn't turn the tables. That's possible depending on the commitment of the Alsace team.


BILLERE HANDBALL PAU PYRÉNÉES VS PONTAULT-COMBAULT HANDBALL 19/04/2024 - 8:30 PM

Who's going to lift their heads?
Billere, with nothing left to play for with 4 matchdays remaining in the championship, faces Pontault Combault. The former merely seeks enjoyment and wishes to provide a fitting end to their coach Daniel Deherme, who will not be continuing. Currently in a rough phase of their season, they fell short by just two goals against Cherbourg. But their opponents are also struggling. Guillaume Saurina's men have suffered 4 consecutive defeats, including a concerning loss at home to Valence, squandering a 4-goal lead at halftime. They seem to be faltering at the moment, prolonging their weak spells with poor choices. However, the return of Aurélien Chaudanson in pivot should provide an important focal point and defensive stability alongside Aurélien Padolus. Moreover, they have everything to gain by finishing second. This would grant them direct qualification for the final four in Sélestat, rather than risking playoffs against the 6th-placed team, currently Cherbourg. Thus, the Parisians aim to catch up with Istres, who are only two points ahead of them.

For us, success should come through their interactions with the pivots. Three players with very different profiles are in the squad. Julien Luciani and Leon Vucko, through their movements and positioning, could often find themselves free—Luciani being of smaller stature, and Vucko a powerhouse. And what about Adrien, even more imposing, but more focused on gaining position with two very good hands? By imposing himself on the opposing number ones, he could create several solutions. This would also flatten the defender Hichem Daoud, preventing him from complicating the opponent's ball circulation. These are the choices Guillaume Saurina should make to secure victory.

Their rather deep defense should continue to do its job and force long-range shooters. Dorian Vallet will have a field day, although he may find himself somewhat isolated, with the absence of other shooters.

Therefore, we see Pontault Combault emerging victorious as they need this win to catch up with Istres, with a scoreline around 29 to 26. They will then have to hope for a stumble from Istres. Meanwhile, Billere will aim to finish the season strongly in their remaining 3 matches and secure a place in the top half of the championship.

CAEN HANDBALL VS MASSY ESSONNE HB 19/04 2024 - 8:30 PM

The off-season, a providence
Caen just can't seem to stop facing their direct rivals for relegation. But what momentum they have right now—it's a remontada. They are now 13th with 16 points, two points ahead of Massy. And this is all thanks to three consecutive victories, the latest being a 35-29 win away at Angers. They can now secure mathematical safety and ensure their survival with a win this Friday. This comes after spending months and months in the relegation zone. To achieve this, they'll need to beat Massy, who, in contrast, are currently in a precarious position. Despite being well-placed in the mid-table earlier, they are now on a streak of three consecutive losses and are only three points ahead of Angers. Suffice it to say, they're feeling the heat. And their recent 32-25 defeat at Besançon won't reassure them. It's a high-stakes match for either team. However, survival is within touching distance for both teams. A single victory should be enough, though it's not guaranteed with Angers, who haven't won a match lately.

The difference will be made by Caen's unstoppable attack at the moment. Louis Tournellec was named the best right-back with his 9 goals last Friday. He complements Emilien Deschamps perfectly, who excels in duels. But against Massy, it's likely the duelist who will shine. Similarly, Allan Villeminot's shooting accuracy and off-the-ball movement will be crucial. Caen should easily surpass 32 goals again to secure victory by a few goals. Thomas Lamora can take pride in the choices made mid-season, which have clearly made a difference. The change in coach and the recruitment of three jokers have enabled them to stay afloat and continue their journey in Proligue next season in their beautiful new Arena.


ISTRES PROVENCE HANDBALL VS FRONTIGNAN THAU HANDBAL 19/04/2024 - 8PM

Play-offs or final four?
Istres, having been surprised at Cournon, now hosts Frontignan. Despite leading by 4 goals with 10 minutes remaining, they suffered a costly lapse in concentration. Despite Cournon receiving two disqualifications, Istres played twice with a numerical advantage. However, their complacency, perhaps due to their inflated egos, makes them self-satisfied. They don't put in the effort they should. That's why, like Tremblay, they sit second with 13 points behind them. But they need to secure that second spot if they want direct qualification for the final four in Sélestat. Currently, they hold a 2-point lead over Pontault Combault, who are second with goal difference in their favor before their return match on April 26. It's crucial for Istres not to slip up before the end of the year. But against Frontignan, anything can happen. They too are inconsistent but are on their way to the playoffs. Currently 5th with 26 points, they recently won 35-33 against Besançon. So, anything is possible in this almost top-of-the-league clash in Proligue.

But in big matches, players know how to elevate their game and put in that extra effort to secure victory. The physical difference will be noticeable in Frontignan's defensive axis. The backcourt players should thrive and score regularly from long range, especially Toie Schroder. Despite already having his sights set on Starligue with Tremblay, his future club, he still needs to prove himself this season, which hasn't been his best. So, seeing his future teammates but also competitors might motivate him to raise his game and score over 10 goals this Friday. This will enable Istres to win, albeit narrowly, as Frontignan will likely continue to surpass 30 goals. However, that shouldn't be enough, and the final result could be something like 35-33 for the Provence team. They would then only need to focus on the decisive match the following week, with Vincent Gérard making enough of a difference in close-range shots to secure the win.


NANCY HANDBALL VS ANGERS SCO HANDBALL - 19/04/2024 - 8PM

The ordeal is not over
Nancy is regaining offensive momentum. Despite a logical loss against Tremblay, they managed to score 34 goals. Even though they have nothing left to play for as the playoffs are out of reach, they still need to showcase themselves to negotiate their future contracts. Given the quality they've displayed, it's important for them to show a different face. They face Angers, who practically have one and a half feet in National 1. Officially, yes, because unofficially, there shouldn't be any promotion from the tier below. Only Dreux, as the other teams won't reach the budget required. That being said, Angers would still like to try to maintain their sporting status. However, their defeat against Caen at home highlights their current difficulties. With Alan Santos failing to deliver the promised performance, they lost convincingly, 35-29. There's little hope that this will change by the end of the year. They are only three points behind Massy with four matches to play. It's a considerable gap, but they face Massy the following week. Therefore, they still need a miracle by the end of the year. Unfortunately, we don't see it happening. They seem more focused on the next season with numerous player movements and transfers rumored in the Angevin corridors. With the minds already set on the next season, it's difficult for the players to rise and remain focused on this season.

That's why we predict Nancy to win easily, propelled by their attacking duo, Rohnan Conte Prat and Yann Ducreux. Both operating on the left flank of the attack, they've been scoring consistently. The alternation between 6- and 7-player configurations has been beneficial for them. It slightly masks their difficulties in playing with three right-handed players. The real difference will be their physical presence. Nancy's density will allow them to gradually break down Angers' attack and swiftly transition forward. With three players, they are challenging to play against, stringing together passes and exploiting defensive errors at high speed.

Therefore, Nancy should win, surpassing 30 goals again while keeping Angers at 25 goals. Angers has only three matches left to understand that maintaining their sporting status is more appealing to attract future partners.


SARREBOURG MOSELLE SUD HANDBALL VS JS CHERBOURGEOISE MANCHE HB 19/04/2024 - 8:30 PM

Dependent on wingers?
Cherbourg, whose place in the playoffs is already secured, travels to Sarrebourg. While the Normans continued to control their game with a solid victory against Billere, the Mosellans experienced a sudden downfall. A bizarre defeat concluded with a significant margin, 37-23 against Sélestat. It's not easy to comprehend what happened, but it was an off day. Perhaps it was fatigue from playing three consecutive matches. In any case, they lacked commitment. And in a contact sport like handball, if you don't bring your A-game, you're quickly reminded of that fact. They'll need to bounce back against Cherbourg, even though they don't have much left to play for except securing a place in the top half of the table.

We anticipate Sarrebourg's attack to continue making a difference from the backcourt. As mentioned earlier, Marius Randriantseheno is having the season of his life. He was the lone standout with his 8 goals against Sélestat. He should lead

their attack again, likely supported by Louis Despreaux in scoring. However, Cherbourg's tight defense will leave opportunities for the wingers. But this is where the problem lies because we see goalkeeper Nicolas Gauthier prevailing over all opposing wingers. Players like Sami Douchet, Julien Cadel, or Félix Werdel are likely to struggle, as they did against Sélestat. They don't seem to get past the top goalkeepers in the league. Therefore, the difference should be made in this area, with Nicolas Gauthier remaining formidable in goal.

In attack, Cherbourg's Spanish-style play is well-balanced at the moment, posing a threat from all sectors. Nicolas Bono orchestrates this brilliantly. The young Italian center continues to improve, particularly in organizing his team and involving all his teammates in the play. While he primarily focuses on his connection with the pivot at the base, his game is expanding. This is also due to opposing tactical choices to close down this connection. Sarrebourg is likely to do the same, which would, in turn, open up more opportunities for David Estepa and Yanis Busselier, the two starting backcourt players since Andry Goujon- Bellevue's serious injury.

Cherbourg should once again emerge victorious, primarily thanks to their goalkeeper, with a scoreline around 29-27. The match will be tight, but Sarrebourg's wingers might struggle to find the net at crucial moments.

VALENCE HANDBALL VS TREMBLAY-EN-FRANCE HANDBALL 19/04/2024 - 8:30 PM

A great deal of self-confidence
Valence pulled off quite a feat against Pontault Combault, turning a 4-goal halftime deficit into a one-point victory. The Valence team continues to surprise, with Aziz Benkahla finding the right words to lead them to success. However, they face Tremblay, who seem to be cruising until the end of the season. They exude overconfidence, displaying less defensive commitment and occasional lapses in concentration. Nonetheless, their superiority allows them to make significant differences in the second half consistently.

During these times, Chérif Amani has the opportunity to give playing time to those who haven't had much during the season, including young players. Ethan Toleon, in particular, showcases his defensive potential, becoming a leader in defense when Uelington Silva is on the bench. Additionally, we see Jérémi Pirani on the left wing, demonstrating his shooting prowess. Despite being a starter in any Proligue team, he finds himself second behind the indomitable Jean Pierre Dupoux. Axel Cochery also gets his chance, although his progress seems limited. While he possesses a powerful shot from 10 meters, he struggles with teamwork and the movements required by his coach, somewhat confined to a particular style. Nevertheless, he should still manage to score more than 5 goals against Valence.

Offensively, Tremblay should once again be comfortable, surpassing 36 goals. Defensively, they will do the job without excessive commitment, giving opportunities to in-form players like Aboubakar Fofana. The American international left-back scored 10 goals last Friday. Furthermore, Rubens Pierre, Tremblay's young goalkeeper, is expected to dominate the opposing shooters. With his considerable reach, he leaves little space for opponents to score, particularly in the corners where he excels at making saves. Therefore, opponents need to adjust their shooting strategy against such a goalkeeper.

Under these conditions, Tremblay is likely to win with a scoreline around 36-28. Everyone will continue to contribute, enjoying the end of the championship season in dominant fashion.