Handball

LNH DIVISION 1 – Round 25

Lao Stand

Apr 15, 2024 • 11 min read

CESSON RENNES MÉTROPOLE HB VS PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN HANDBALL - 17/04/ 2024 - 8PM

Battered but not sunk
Raul Gonzalez, the Parisian coach, must be satisfied. The scoring has finally been distributed within his team to secure a controlled victory against Saint-Raphaël. But beware, they are starting their marathon. This first match against Cesson before the French Cup final on Saturday against Nantes, and then the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona next Thursday. Suffice it to say that their minds should be, even unconsciously, focused on the rest of the week. The reception of Cesson could be complicated. Indeed, the Parisians will be ready for the upcoming challenges, including this one, but they won't want to get injured. However, the Breton's strong defensive aggressiveness can be intimidating. PSG clearly wants to control the match without getting hurt. So, it's fair to say that it's a match where we might see PSG struggling and easily getting frustrated. One might even bet on Romaric Guillo's final disqualification due to a triple temporary exclusion.

Therefore, by rotating his team, Raul Gonzalez will try to preserve his players' fitness, but it may put his team in offensive difficulty. Ultimately, their large number of injured players has forced the coach to constantly rely on the same players. Let's hope they have enough energy for the upcoming decisive matches. We would love to see two French clubs meet at the final four in Cologne again. But the road is complicated to get there. For PSG, they need to succeed in overcoming Barcelona, who also aims to reach the final.

So, as we believe, the Parisians should prevail at home thanks to their great tactical quality. However, it will be a tough and complicated match. The Parisian defense should prevail due to the lack of long-range shooters from the opponents. This is what will allow PSG to make the difference when needed and win by perhaps only a 3-goal margin.

CHAMBÉRY SAVOIE HB VS MONTPELLIER HANDBALL APRIL 16/04/24 - 8PM

The Classico
This is a classic in this championship. It used to be the match for the title back in the day. That has changed, but there is still fervor surrounding this matchup. It has given us great matches in the history of handball, and it will have a special flavor once again. Especially for a major player, that's coach Erick Mathé, former assistant to Patrice Canayer at Montpellier, who is currently the head coach of Chambéry. He will be Montpellier's head coach next year. Suffice it to say, he knows the house well and will be seeking a tactical plan to outsmart his opponents tonight. However, they are in great form at the moment, before their Champions League quarter-final against Kiel next season. They just taught Dunkirk a lesson with a score of 37-25, led by their two center-backs. They will seek to replicate this level of performance in Chambéry to prepare well for Kiel.

And they are capable of it. Their movement and continuity of strong periods should provide many solutions against the Chambéry players. Chambéry will struggle to handle the duels, like those of center-back Stas Skube, who was impeccable last Saturday with 5 goals. This is indeed the weakness of the Savoyards, but their strength lies in their ability to assist and close ranks. They are certainly the team that closes down the best in the championship, with a real complexity in ball exits as they manage to impact the ball carrier's forearm and intercept passes. This allows them to compensate for their weaknesses in dueling. So, Montpellier is likely to score more crosses than usual and be drawn towards the center. But they still have players capable of surpassing 33 goals this Tuesday.

On the other side of the field, if Sébastien Skube, the Chambéry center-back and brother of Montpellier's Stas Skube, is absent, we should see a lot of Lucas Vanegue leading the way. He certainly has enormous qualities, especially in duels, but can sometimes force the game. And we know how detrimental that can be against Montpellier, who will punish Chambéry in those moments on the open court. However, if Sebastian is present, it could make for a great familial duel. But as we just expressed, MHB manages to win their matches on the open court as soon as the opposing attack falters slightly.

And it will be the case once again, which will allow Montpellier to win by a score around 34-30. They can now focus on Kiel, once again putting French handball in the spotlight.

C’CHARTRES MÉTROPOLE HANDBALL VS PROVENCE AIX UNIVERSITÉ HANDBALL 17/04/2024 - 8PM

A first at the coliseum
Chartres was functioning well since the restart. And then everything just exploded without us understanding why. No more injuries, an apparent cohesion, a coherent game. Yet they have just suffered four consecutive defeats, the latest against the bottom team in the standings, Dijon. This 34-30 loss is not acceptable for coach Nebosja Stojinovic. And yet, they have to accept it before facing Aix. The latter narrowly won against Ivry. They can thank their goalkeeper, Wesley Pardin, who made crucial saves when needed to keep his team ahead. But Aix has also been struggling in recent weeks. Their game lacks quality. This sets up a confrontation between two teams lacking confidence. But there must be a winner. Could it be Chartres for their first victory in their new arena, the Colisée? They, who have only known defeat so far, would love to make it an impregnable fortress.

For this, Chartres will have to rely on the duels of Yvan Verin once again. He, who scored 9 goals against Dijon, almost had to do it all alone as he was winning all his duels against their weak defense. As for Aix, their technical qualities are superior, but their passive defense allows opponents to position themselves in favorable conditions. That's why this duelist and sharpshooter should exceed 5 goals again. But he will be accompanied by Sergiy Onufriyenko, the right back. As an experienced player, he needs tactical movements that put him in good condition. And since he won't be hindered in timing, he could easily exceed 7 goals this Wednesday evening. That's where this match will be decided. On whether the Aix players succumb to opponents' plans because they lack defensive intentions. However, Ian Tarrafeta will continue to organize his team's offense masterfully. So yes, Aix en Provence will score more than 30 goals, but two or three exploits from Milan Bomastar will allow the Chartres team, in a buzzing Colisée, to clinch victory.

The score could be around 33-31. A beautiful outcome for this long-awaited first victory in this arena.

US CRÉTEIL HANDBALL VS DIJON MÉTROPOLE HB 17/04/2024 - 8:30 PM

Proligue or not?
Dijon gave themselves hope last weekend by defeating Chartres 34-30. They are now just 3 points behind the first non-relegation spot, currently held by Saran, and only 2 points behind their opponents tonight, Créteil. With another unexpected victory, they could find themselves level on points with Créteil. They hope to break the curse that no team promoted through the Proligue playoffs has managed to stay in Starligue the following year. What an achievement it would be for them, considering they've been at the bottom almost since day one. And to do it against a Créteil team that naturally struggled in Nantes makes this match particularly significant. Créteil also needs points to secure their survival and leapfrog Saran. Anything can happen this Wednesday, especially with Saran unlikely to earn points against Nantes. Dijon could find themselves level on points with Créteil and just 1 point behind Saran. However, it's also possible that Créteil escapes the relegation zone with 12 points, leaving Saran with 11 and Dijon with 8. Essentially, if Dijon doesn't perform well now, they'll say goodbye to their dream of staying up with only 5 rounds left.

The outcome should heavily rely on Créteil's offensive quality against Dijon's defensive weaknesses. Also, on Créteil's penchant for forcing solutions and losing possession frequently. The absence of Kylian Rigault might be a blessing in disguise, resulting in a longer, less turnover-prone game. His replacement, Dorde Dekic or Edson Imare, will likely find solutions from long distance and all across the court, respectively. However, the real difference-maker might be Alejandro Barbeito with his ground-level duels. His agility and explosiveness could trouble the opposing axial defenders, including Robin Paris. With the solutions at their disposal and better ball control, Créteil should edge this tense match.

Although Wassim Helal, Dijon's goalkeeper, is more accustomed to making a difference at home with his home crowd, he might not be able to do it single-handedly this time.
Therefore, we expect a Créteil victory with a score around 34-31.

DUNKERQUE HANDBALL GRAND LITTORAL VS USAM NÎMES GARD 18/04/2024 - 8PM

The little details make the ...
Nîmes is still in the race for Europe, but they were caught up by Chambéry after their defeat against them. Despite being in the game throughout, they ended up losing, allowing the Savoyards to soar to a 39-31 victory. The margin doesn't accurately reflect the match's profile but underscores how capable Nîmes are of letting go once they sense defeat. Will Franck Maurice find the recipe against his former team and his former assistant? He knows the players inside out, which is why his former defensive boss, Quentin Dupuy, will join him up north. There's no doubt he'll have a precise tactical plan against his former players. Weaknesses can be highlighted more easily when you've been working together almost every day. Dunkirk has an advantage in this regard. However, they're coming off a poor performance where they were outplayed by Montpellier, eventually losing 37-25. They were completely overwhelmed by Montpellier's pace.

Against Nîmes, the continuity of play from the Nîmes side lacks depth and commitment towards the goal. So, it's crucial for Dunkirk to be strong during Nîmes' strong periods and offensive movements to disrupt their momentum. Once achieved, they must replicate this reading on the following strong period, which can occur after several harmless passes. This is why Dunkirk should succeed in reducing Nîmes' offensive impact. Despite being physically stronger, they lack speed and movement. But against Nîmes, this shouldn't be a problem. The Northerners will have time to be on point in their sequences. Only Jean Jacques Acquevillo should feel comfortable offensively in direct duels with Tom Pelayo.

On the other side of the court, the same principle applies. Dunkirk's strength should prevail in the pivot with Benjamin Afgour. But the speed of the backcourt players should create distribution problems often present on the Nîmes side. Cornelius Kragh may find himself alone shooting from afar against the goalkeeper. However, Nîmes remains the third-best defense in the league. But Dunkirk will know how to exploit the weaknesses known only to them by their former coach.

This real advantage will make the difference. With very precise tactical adjustments, Dunkirk should win with a score around 30-28.

US IVRY HANDBALL VS LIMOGES HAND 87
18/04/2024 - 8:30 PM

The leak ...
But what's happening on Ivry's side? Most of the players trained at the club have decided to leave. Yet, they're joining clubs like Saran, who are likely to drop to Proligue. So, one wonders if everything is going smoothly within the corridors of Auguste Delaune. It's surprising to let go of their most talented players to rival clubs. So, it's not certain that everything is aboveboard. However, the players continue to fight on the field. They might even regret their failures from 6 meters against Wesley Pardin in key moments of the match against Aix. Thus, they succumbed 38 to 37. For this Thursday, they face Limoges. They are on track to secure their ticket to Europe. Currently fifth after their impressive victory against Saran, they now have a two-point lead over sixth-placed Nîmes. So, they hope not to slip up. But it's a tough away game at Ivry, who also play well but struggle with their young age in handling weak moments. It's difficult to predict the winner of this match. Normally, Limoges should prevail, but in a single match, Ivry is capable of defeating most teams in Starligue.

Two fairly similar styles clash. Lots of movement, speed. And in the second halves, they often bring in a winger as a second pivot. This allows them to play around their pivot to create a focal point and attempt to create a numerical advantage without danger inside. Both teams thus regularly chain together real moments of strength. The difference between the two teams is that Limoges players don't force situations that don't exist. In contrast, Ivry tends to hope for things and situations that aren't clear. It's in these moments, especially during their weak periods, that they falter and lose many balls. Most of Ivry's defeats stem from these times. But against Limoges, we believe they will succeed in rewarding themselves. Youth and vigor against experience and advanced age. In a single match, we think youth will prevail for once. The score should be around 35 to 34. A tight and intense match indeed.

SAINT-RAPHAËL VHB VS FENIX TOULOUSE HANDBALL
17/04/2024 - 8PM

Defenceless exploit?
Saint-Raphaël is facing tough opponents consecutively. After Montpellier in 3rd place and Paris in 1st, it's now Toulouse in 4th place. Another big match is on the horizon. Despite being caught off guard by Cesson, Toulouse remains a consistent force in this championship. One can sense that they work very well under the guidance of Danijel Andjelkovic. However, they could suffer their second consecutive defeat. Saint-Raphaël can score 38 goals against anyone, as they did against Montpellier. But when will they start defending? That's the big question and what Toulouse will try to exploit. Despite being in eighth place, they have the second worst defense in the championship behind Dijon. They concede an average of 34 goals per match. While the game has certainly accelerated with the new rules, increasing possession, there are still significant defensive lapses, especially in the second positions. Moreover, they are often disjointed and struggle to support each other cohesively. So, either they win or they lose. There's no consistent organization to guide the opposing team where they want, even if they don't win 100%, they must accept losing where they desire. Thus, yes, Toulouse will easily surpass 32 goals with Ayyoub Abdi shining.

However, on the other side, Saint-Raphaël also possesses a great quality around their top scorer and playmaker, José Marquez. Accompanied by Drevy Paschal positioned on the backcourt, they should put pressure on the Toulouse defense. Their wide crosses will stretch the defense, opening up opportunities for the opposite backcourt players.

Therefore, we see the Varois scoring 36 against Toulouse to clinch victory with a final score of 36-33. It's a very open match, with the advantage going to Saint-Raphaël.

SARAN LOIRET HB VS HBC NANTES - 17/04/2024 - 8PM

Time for replacements
Nantes maintains their second place easily. Another comfortable victory against Créteil and now an away trip to Saran, which should end similarly. The Nantais have in the back of their minds the desire to keep pressure on PSG, who are in first place, and hope for a misstep from them. It will take two missteps, but with the Champions League quarter-finals approaching, an opportunity might arise. But before that, there's a first title to chase with the French Cup final against PSG this Saturday. So, Saran should serve as a preparation ground. Especially as the rotations are gradually returning. Baptiste Bonnefond has finally returned to the H Arena. Kauldi Odriozola is back after his wing injury. He should reclaim his starting spot from Théo Avelange-Demouge, who filled in masterfully in his absence. The depth of Nantes' squad is a steamroller for the opponents in the league. When it's not the starter, it's the substitute who makes the difference, and so on.
And this time, it could be Julien Bos and Lucas De la Bretèche who make the difference. Their movement qualities and reading of the opponent's game allow them to make the right choices regularly. Not much flashiness, but a clear inclination towards beautiful and efficient play.
And even though the Saran defense is more mobile, having Mohamed Mamdouh in the 3-3-1 formation, the Nantais will have the upper hand with their off-the-ball movement. But also with the connection they create with Théo Monar inside. He should find solutions under the 3-3-1, being physically superior to both.

There is no doubt, therefore, that HBC Nantes will emerge victorious this Wednesday. And by a significant margin, with a score around 38-30. This will be an opportunity, especially for Gregory Cojean, to rotate his squad and maintain nervous and physical influx for Saturday. Baptiste Bonnefond should therefore get a few more minutes and score a few goals. Then they will only have to focus on the French Cup final to secure a title. And as we've mentioned, keep in the back of their minds the desire to become French champions. But that doesn't depend on them.

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