Handball

LNH DIVISION 1 – Round 23

Lao Stand

Apr 3, 2024 • 11 min read

C’CHARTRES MÉTROPOLE HANDBALL VS LIMOGES HAND 87 05/04/ 2024 - 8PM

No certainty
Chartres, 12th with 17 points, face Limoges, 5th with 24 points. The latter aims to maintain their qualifying position for European competition. However, Chartres has been in good form lately. Despite their 3-goal loss to Montpellier, they managed to unsettle them during the match, closing the gap to just two goals with 6 minutes remaining. Unfortunately, they couldn't push through to leave Hérault with points. So, this match is far from decided.

Both teams boast significant offensive power. Despite defensive struggles, as demonstrated by Limoges' 39-37 victory over Chambéry last weekend, they have the ability to win high-scoring games. Therefore, we can expect plenty of goals this Friday, likely surpassing 33 goals once again.
Sergiy Onufriyenko, Chartres' right-back, is expected to shine once more, despite being 39 years old, he continues to average 4 goals per match, mainly contributing during attack-defense substitutions. On the other hand, Seif El-Dera, Limoges' center- back, is gaining momentum. With increased playing time, he brings his formidable shooting power, which should trouble Chartres' defensive axis.
However, the strength lies in the collective gameplay of both teams. Chartres' players have been playing together for several years now, displaying coordinated play with minimal risk-taking in the early stages. They rely on movement to create danger, with Yvan Vérin attacking isolated defenders and exploiting outer intervals after his teammates' efforts, either finishing himself or providing opportunities for Gael Tribillon or Vanja Ilic.
Limoges, on the other hand, adopts a Spanish-style approach, focusing on pivot play anticipation, with backs capable of long- range scoring in various areas.
It's not easy to predict the outcome of this match. However, we anticipate a minor upset with Chartres securing a home victory by a margin of fewer than 3 goals.

US CRÉTEIL HANDBALL VS PAYS AIX UNIVERSITÉ CLUB HANDBALL - 05/04/2024 - 8:30 PM

A common goal makes you stronger
Créteil remains stuck in second-to-last place with only 8 points and two victories in 22 matches. They face Aix, who alternate between hot and cold, and we anticipate a cold weekend for them. Against a Créteil team fighting for survival, Aix's lack of commitment will leave the door open for the home team.

In defense, Créteil's defensive commitment won't slow down Ian Tarrafeta, Aix's true playmaker. However, he seems somewhat isolated. It's evident that some players have given up and do not engage as required. From the outside, it appears that they don't accept their roles as substitutes. Therefore, Créteil must focus on controlling the Spanish gem and managing the other players.
However, the match will primarily be decided in attack. The dialectic is real for this weekend. The quality of Créteil's attack aligns perfectly with Aix's weaknesses. Indeed, Aix struggles with central combinations. As soon as there's a crossover, they may struggle to regain their footing and depth. And that's precisely Créteil's style of play: a great sequence of central crossovers. If the defense manages to create depth, Valentin Aman will be regularly found, or if they remain flat, Kylian Rigault will take advantage from afar with his powerful shots. These will be the two top scorers of the evening. Additionally, Aix's lack of investment will allow Créteil to lose fewer balls than usual.
That's why we anticipate a major upset with Créteil's surprise victory by a scoreline around 35 to 33.

DUNKERQUE HANDBALL GRAND LITTORAL VS FENIX TOULOUSE HANDBALL - 05/04/2024 - 8PM

Surprise in store?
Toulouse, who is alone in fifth place with a 6-point lead over their pursuer, could slow down this Friday. Traveling to Flanders is never easy. Dunkirk, on the other hand, is coming off a convincing victory in Burgundy and would like to challenge their predecessors. They could be within one point of a group between fifth and ninth place. For Dunkirk to have an interesting stake for the end of the season, they need these points. So, it's a difficult match to judge.

We believe that defensively, Tarik Hayatoune and Franck Maurice, the Dunkirk coaches, will seek a solution to Toulouse's attack. And it's necessary given their quality of movement. We'll have speed of play against strength. Although there's a lack of mobility, they direct the players where they want them, usually into density. Experience is important to control a player like Casper Kall, the young Swedish center-back. Once his range of action is reduced, they'll need to be strong on the wings. Jean Loup Faustin will need to use all his cunning to handle one-on-ones with Ayoubb Abdi, the Algerian right back. If that's the case, Dunkirk could limit Toulouse to less than 30 goals. But do they have the ability to score as many?
Not easy either. But like Jean Loup Faustin, they'll put their heart into it. Their center-back should use his spins and shoulder engagements to successfully penetrate this tough central defense in one-on-one situations. We foresee several connections with Benjamin Afgour, their pivot. He should physically dominate his position inside to get numerous shooting opportunities from 6 meters.

But we believe that heart will make the difference. All in heart, as the saying goes in Dunkirk. So, it's a difficult victory that should be decided in the final seconds. The northerners could therefore win by a scoreline around 30 to 29.

US IVRY HANDBALL VS CHAMBÉRY SAVOIE HB
05/04/ 2024 - 8:30 PM

Must in the eyes

Ivry, who stared PSG straight in the eyes, will they do the same against Chambéry? They were leading at halftime but failed to finish strong, losing 36-31. However, they have shown promising signs in recent weeks. Even though they have only won one match in their last five encounters, they prove that they can compete with the best. But something seems to be missing in the end to capitalize on their efforts and reward themselves. Their opponents tonight are also struggling, with four losses in their last five matches. It's time for one of the two teams to lift their heads. And it should again be a high-scoring affair, with defensive challenges on both sides.

But we believe that Ivry's style complements well against Chambéry. Their fast-paced ball movement, sustained rhythm, and fairly similar player profiles could enable them to achieve the unexpected. It won't be the only surprise of the weekend, as there are likely to be a few. Indeed, their mobility could exploit the opponent's lack thereof. Two players, in particular, are currently on fire and should continue to lead Ivry's offensive efficiency. They are Aymeric Zaepfel, the unconventional left back, and Antonin Mohamed, the left winger who also acts as a playmaker. The former has been averaging 9 goals per match in the last six games, while the latter has been scoring at an average of 5 goals per match, with the last two matches seeing 8 goals each.

There's no doubt they will continue to trouble their opponents tonight. Speed will make the difference.
On the other side of the court, Chambéry will continue their work. And when it's not Benjamin Richert who's shining, it's his replacement, Antoine Tissot. The future Aix-en-Provence player makes the most of his minutes wisely. His signature fake shot in the air before actually shooting often succeeds. His jumping ability allows him to unsettle the goalkeeper and play with him. In any case, the entire Chambéry team leans towards the right. Didier Dinard, the Ivry coach and multiple times elected best defender in the world, will impart his defensive culture to nullify Chambéry's game. Hopefully, his players can execute the system he has planned. Not so simple, however.

But we mainly see Ivry delivering a strong offensive performance to win by a scoreline around 36-34. Ivry's goalkeeper, Mate Sunjic, will make crucial saves to help his team take control in the final minutes. He, who will wear Cesson's colors next year, is a reliable and consistent goalkeeper. His experience should once again prove invaluable before his departure.

HBC NANTES VS PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN HANDBALL
07/04/ 2024 - 4PM

The black beast
Here it is, the big summit of the championship. Nantes has always managed to trouble PSG in recent seasons. Will they achieve the feat of handing PSG their first defeat? Indeed, PSG remains undefeated and masters their matches from one game to the next. But this time, they will be coming out of a tough European battle against Wisla Plock. Their narrow 4-goal lead from the first leg allows them some breathing room, but they still need to fight hard this Thursday to qualify for the quarter- finals. Meanwhile, Nantes will have a week to prepare for this showdown. They have time to adjust tactically and find the keys to unlock PSG's defense.

Firstly, in defense, Nantes' quality around the pivot should limit the impact of the imposing Kamil Syprzak. The Polish pivot regularly scores 10 goals or more per match and is a key component of Raul Gonzalez's system. However, Nantes defends rather deep around the pivot, which should certainly reduce his influence. On the other hand, as usual, Luc Steins is expected to continue his impressive performance and exploit the mobility weaknesses of Théo Monar, Nantes' defensive pivot. And finally, the third strong player for PSG is Elohim Prandi, the left back who has been unstoppable since his Euro performance. But Nantes is agile enough to track his runs and apply pressure to limit his effectiveness.

Nantes will primarily exploit open spaces with a fast-paced game to try to tire out PSG. The lack of high-quality rotations could potentially work against PSG. We can expect Nantes to maintain their intensity and exploit any slight openings, especially through Aymeric Minne, who has been consistently scoring over 8 goals per match. It's clear he's aiming for a spot in the Olympics, and he's doing everything to earn it in the eyes of the public. In attack, he will be complemented by his teammate Thibault Briet, who will use his changes of pace to challenge Luka Karabatic in duels.
However, the match will mainly come down to whether Nantes can slightly reduce PSG's offensive impact and exploit all the weaknesses in fast breaks.
With a solid performance from Ivan Pesic in goal, Nantes should come out on top. Like all such high-stakes matches, it will be a game of ups and downs, ultimately decided in the final moments. Therefore, the scoreline is likely to be around 35-33 in favor of Nantes.

USAM NÎMES GARD VS DIJON MÉTROPOLE HB
05/04/ 2024 - 8PM

A rediscovered game?
Dijon is struggling. Unfortunately, their journey in the Proligue is rapidly nearing its end. Currently sitting at the bottom with a 4-point gap from safety, their trip to Gard seems like their last chance in the upcoming matches. On the other hand, Nîmes is in a better position. They have just secured two consecutive victories, putting them in the mix for the European race. Currently 6th, tied on points with Saint-Raphaël and Limoges, the 5th place, which guarantees European qualification, is within their reach. This weekend, once again, it will be the attack that makes the difference.

As we've seen, Jesper Konradsson has regained his effectiveness. The Swedish center-back is a player who can create all the initial momentum through his one-on-one situations. Very effective in his shoulder engagement, whether towards the inside or outside, his ball exits are always protected if he doesn't win his duel in the initial phases. Equally adept at shooting through defenders, opponents are forced to focus on him, opening up spaces for his wingers. Jean-Jacques Acquevillo, his left-back, is expected to be the key player alongside him in Nîmes' offensive success. His engagement in the outer interval, but above all his powerful duels, will provide many solutions at 6 meters. With Dijon still weak in duels and closures, there's no need for extensive continuity of play this weekend. However, winning the initial phases will be essential. This should be the case, and USAM should therefore surpass 33 goals.

On the other side, Dijon is likely to rely on their left-back, Messaoud Berkous. The Algerian left-back may struggle to connect with his teammates, but his extreme power should be useful against the opposing defense, either through long-range shots or duels with Tom Poyet. The defensive volume should also open up opportunities for Edgar Dentz, Dijon's pivot. However, this may not be enough to surpass 30 goals.
Therefore, Nîmes should logically emerge victorious with a scoreline around 33-28. Mastery should prevail among the Nîmes ranks, especially as they have a slightly broader squad now.

SAINT-RAPHAËL VHB VS MONTPELLIER HANDBALL
06/04/2024 - 8PM

Difficult to keep up with high intensity
Saint-Raphaël has found a defensive solution to plug the gaps. A high 1-5 defense with Drevy Paschal as an advanced defender. This allowed them to hold Cesson to 26 goals. Unfortunately for them, they let their well-deserved victory slip away by conceding an equalizer in the final seconds. They will face Montpellier HB next. Despite internal issues surrounding Patrice Canayer, Montpellier is in good form. Canayer aimed to provoke a reaction from his players, which he achieved to some extent. We still see a team that remains in control. However, they have a crucial match on Wednesday against the young Zagreb team in the Champions League. Having secured a draw in Croatia, they will need to work hard to hope for a quarter-final clash against Kiel. Naturally, this double confrontation will drain them physically and mentally. This could be Saint-Raphaël's chance to close the gap to one point behind Nantes if the latter loses to Paris. However, Montpellier may be too focused on the Champions League. If any team in this championship can unsettle them, it's Saint-Raphaël. They have often lost at the Palais des Sports, especially against numerous former club players. Now, it mainly relies on Adrien Di Panda, now primarily a defensive player for Var. Coming from the MHB, he knows the keys to thwarting Patrice Canayer's plans. But he will need effective partners.

And at present, Drevy Paschal is impressively emerging. The son of Yves André, a former prominent player in the league, is being utilized in various roles. As an advanced defender, his great wingspan and mobility disrupt the opponent's collective play. This reduces the quality of continuity in their game. Montpellier might struggle to execute their usual wide movements. Additionally, Paschal is improving offensively. Starting on his wing, he uses his physical prowess to unsettle and read the opposing goalkeeper. Also, from the backcourt, his shots often result in goals. A goal he scored at the buzzer was unfortunately disallowed due to being slightly late.

Under these circumstances, Saint-Raphaël should emerge victorious with a scoreline around 35-32. Montpellier may be too fatigued from their European clashes.

SARAN LOIRET HB VS CESSON RENNES MÉTROPOLE HB
05/04/2024 - 8PM

Turning the corner
Cesson managed to secure a point against Saint-Raphaël, displaying their fighting spirit until the very end. Although they didn't necessarily deserve more, their cohesion allowed them to snatch a draw. Trailing by two goals with 1 minute 30 seconds left, they managed to equalize with just 10 seconds remaining, courtesy of Daniel Mosindi. While they conceded a goal right after, it was mere tenths of a second after the buzzer. This result further distances them from the relegation zone. With one of the best defenses in the league led by Romaric Guillo, they now face Saran, a team struggling defensively.

Cesson is likely to limit their opponents to fewer than 26 goals once again. Their mobility and aggressive fouling disrupt the flow of the game, making it difficult for Saran to string together more than three passes with intensity. Sylvain Hochet's volume in the number 2 position allows his team to minimize any defensive gaps. He often works tirelessly in reverse with considerable height to cut off the opposing team's passing lanes. Saran's only real option would be to attack Daniel Mosindi when he's on the court. Pau Oliveras might find some simple solutions unless the defense is effective. All of this gives Cesson a significant advantage.
In attack, Cesson's backcourt players will make the difference, which can vary from match to match. One night it might be Hakon Ekren, another night Robin Molinie, or even the Briffe brothers' duels. However, one thing is certain: Mathieu Salou has stepped up his game. He will alternate between taking shots from the outside and firing from over 10 meters, potentially scoring more than 6 goals in this matchup.

They will lead their team to a controlled victory with a scoreline around 32-26. Saran will continue to monitor their position and hope for Créteil's defeat to maintain their status as the top team outside the relegation zone. However, they must be cautious not to give too many opportunities to Créteil, who could leapfrog them in the standings.

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