Handball

LNH DIVISION 1 – Round 28

Lao Stand

May 14, 2024 • 13 min read

PROVENCE AIX UNIVERSITÉ CLUB HANDBALL VS FENIX TOULOUSE HANDBALL - 17/05/2024 - 8PM

A new-found stability?
Before this brief international break of a week, Aix was on a streak of 4 consecutive victories. Often hard-fought, like their last one by a single goal against Cesson. But enough to give them a full dose of confidence as they approach the final stretch of three matches in an attempt to qualify for Europe. Toulouse, on the other hand, was struggling a bit more but had concluded with a victory at Chartres after 3 consecutive defeats. The absentees are clearly affecting them, with the injuries of Nemanja Ilic, their captain on the left wing and top scorer of the team, as well as Jeff Lettens, their number 1 goalkeeper. However, they have nothing more to play for, securely holding onto their fourth place which they should maintain until the end. Considering all these factors, we believe Aix can create a little surprise this Friday. They may not have goalkeepers in top form all the time like the previous match, but they can now rely on a solid central axis. The emergence of Mouhamadou Sidibe brings them real stability in the heart of their defense. His defensive workload allows his teammates to drop back more quickly and defend strongly against their direct opponents. There are still some issues with the partnership with Gerdas Babarskas, but this should stabilize as they play more minutes together. Toulouse, therefore, should not attack head-on but rather try to create movement and combinations to create problems with distribution or overcommitment. Toulouse's game is fully anchored in this style. They should regularly find solutions from afar but also in the interval after the sequence of focal points in the axis of the opposing defense. Erwin Feutchman, the Chilean international, should adapt to this. However, Goncalo Martins may struggle with his lack of ability to exploit this outer interval. Toulouse will find solutions and will have to penetrate the Aix goalkeeping pair who are currently in great form.
But on the other side of the field, Ian Tarrafeta does it all. Scorer, decisive passer, game organizer, he is the undisputed leader of his team. He is the playmaker, and his shooting speed is impressive. Despite not being particularly fast, he surprises all goalkeepers with his relaxation and his wrist, which allows him to place the balls wherever he wants. Gabriel Loesch, facing his former teammate, should regain his vigor and success on the numerous decisive passes from his center-back. Finally, facing Toulouse, Andrea Parisini could stand out. The international pivot returns pumped up from his international week with a historic qualification for the 2025 World Championships. As the captain of his national team, he achieved this feat 28 years later. If Philippe Gardent gives him some credit, he should succeed in finding solutions against the opposing defensive volume. He will help his teammates score more than 34 goals in this match.
Therefore, Aix could win with a scoreline around 34 to 32. Of course, a tightly contested match, as they almost play every weekend. This would be a good step towards Europe.

CESSON RENNES MÉTROPOLE HANDBALL VS DIJON MÉTROPOLE HB 17/05/ 2024 - 8:30PM

A lot of heart
Cesson may regret their one-goal defeat against Aix. It wasn't necessarily deserved; a draw would have been fairer. However, Romain Briffe's dribble restart with 1'30 left annihilated their hopes. They fail to reward themselves for their good performances. The Glaz Arena aims to regain and celebrate victory, this time against Dijon. Dijon, who logically lost to Paris, suffered greatly in the last round due to other results. Créteil's draw means they are now 3 points away from safety with only 3 games left. It's almost mission impossible. They could keep a glimmer of hope if they win this Friday against Cesson. But with two tough away games, the schedule isn't in their favor. As for Cesson, they could hope to finish in the top 10. However, with 3 points behind a strong Dunkirk, it remains challenging.

So, we anticipate a match where both teams will fight until the end. Cesson because it's been their value since the beginning of the year, and Dijon because it's their last hope. The match will be far from decided regardless of how it unfolds. But facing Dijon's defensive weaknesses in duels, the Bretons have too many cards to play. And one of them is Michal Baran, the young player from the academy who grows with each outing. Note his 6 goals against Aix. His duels, especially on the wings, will trouble Mathis Jafiol, who will struggle to contain him. We also expect a great performance from Mateo Briffe. The younger brother can make an impact with his explosiveness. Robin Paris, Dijon's exclusive defender and future Caen player, could struggle to cope with the opponent's speed. He, who thrives in physical battles, will face very agile players. He is likely to lose many duels, perhaps even get disqualified, leaving ample room for the Breton attack to shine. They should easily surpass 33 goals.

On the other side of the field, Dijon also has weapons to wield. With Berkous absent, Pierrick Naudin can leverage his experience and exploit the decisive work of his midfielders. The game is based on this principle: midfielders create focal points

for the backs to exploit the imbalances created. The second player likely to be supplied with balls is Edgar Dentz in the pivot position. He could excel against the opponent's tough defense. And when the backs run out of options, they also force solutions with him. He will help his team surpass 30 goals as well.

However, Cesson's attack is too efficient and diverse for Dijon to contain. The spaces will be too vast to cover. Therefore, the Burgundians should prevail with a score of 33 to 30. Dijon could bid farewell to the Liqui Moly Starligue as early as this weekend.

CHAMBÉRY SAVOIE HB VS SARAN LOIRET HB
17/05/2024 - 8PM

The wing ball
Chambéry has slightly drifted away from the race for Europe after their defeat against Nantes. Their direct competitors emerged victorious, leaving them two points behind Aix and USAM. However, with three games left in the season, they still have the opportunity to climb back and surpass their opponents. They face Saran this Friday, who are fighting to avoid relegation. It's a constant back-and-forth with Créteil, who have just reclaimed the lead after their draw against Limoges. This remote duel is likely to persist until the final matchday. Therefore, every small achievement and point gained could be decisive for survival. Can they accomplish it in Savoie?

It's hard to believe, considering how consistent Chambéry has been and how they've maintained their position in the standings. They generally make very few mistakes against teams below them.
The match is likely to be decided on the wings. Chambéry, with their outward-focused game, faces a team that strives to support each other to the maximum. But also facing two goalkeepers who struggle against wingers. Benjamin Richert could once again shine and score more than 10 goals. But his counterpart, Antoine Tissot, should also contribute and may surpass 5 goals. On the other side, Queido Traoré and Arthur Anquetil should also have the opportunity to be decisive. They, who may lack in ball possession, should be provided with more opportunities this time. Saran's defense is likely to be trapped by the quality of the opposing wingers. Even if Yann Gentil returns to his beloved club, he should be overwhelmed, as well as Ivan Panjan, who has taken the starting position in Saran's goal in recent weeks.

In attack, Pau Oliveras should fight fiercely, but Chambéry's teamwork is always of high quality. They will likely find solutions from long distance, especially through William Accambray. However, he might be somewhat isolated in terms of creating danger from afar, unless Florian Delecroix unleashes himself once again and surprises as he did when he was younger. Nevertheless, Saran will run into a wall and should struggle in open spaces against the wingers.

These wingers will therefore allow Chambéry to win comfortably in their fortress with a scoreline around 34 to 27. They should position themselves well in the race for Europe.

US IVRY HANDBALL VS C’CHARTRES MÉTROPOLE HANDBALL 16/05/2024 - 8:30PM

Hurry up, maintain your position
Ivry, currently 13th with 14 points, are facing Chartres, 12th with 17 points. Both teams are not yet assured of maintaining their position at the end of the season. Even though Chartres is likely to secure survival even without a victory, Ivry, with three games remaining, only has a slim one-point lead over Créteil and Saran. This means that these remote duels will intensify until the end of the season. Therefore, this is a crucial match for Ivry to gain some breathing room. They have often lost by a narrow margin, but this time they collapsed against USAM with a score of 30 to 24, mainly due to the number of injuries on Ivry's side. Players like Aymeric Zaepfel and Léo Martinez are sorely missed by their teammates. Hopefully, the international break will have allowed them to recover some strength for this crucial match against a direct competitor. We already know that Aymeric Zaepfel will not return to the courts by the end of the season. Let's hope for the red and black team that Dylan Garain returns to bring long-range firepower, which will be necessary against Chartres, as this is where they struggle. Milan Bomastar can be excellent up close but struggles from long range.

The match will therefore be played in attack. Both teams have various defensive difficulties, particularly in mobility and task sequences. Yvan Verin for Chartres and Antonin Mohamed for Ivry should feel comfortable. Their mobility, especially in the second phase, will allow them to exploit the opponent's weaknesses and spaces. Attacks will take precedence over defenses. Indeed, movement on one side and striking power on the other will allow both teams to surpass 30 goals. But how will they differentiate themselves?

We believe it will be the experience of Mate Sunjic, who will be Cesson Rennes' future goalkeeper, that will make the difference. He will shut down the goal in crucial moments, allowing his teammates to take a slight lead that should be maintained until the end. Naturally, there will be a lot of heart, desire, and energy fueled by an active crowd. The curse of one-goal defeats should end there, and Ivry could win by around two goals. The iconic Ivry captain will once again have enabled his club to reach the desired level. His loss could leave a significant void in the future years. Only time will tell if it was a good choice.

LIMOGES HAND 87 VS DUNKERQUE HANDBALL GRAND LITTORAL 17/05/ 2024 - 8PM

Change of direction
A thrilling match awaits us. Limoges is determined to secure their fifth place until the end of the season to conclude a successful campaign, while Dunkerque hopes to end on a high note after a challenging season where objectives were revised downwards following the departure of their captain, Samir Belhacene, to Kiel. However, considering the historical significance and the rise of their goalkeeper in the French national team during the Euro, they would likely make the same choice again. Nonetheless, these northerners have shown great heart, notably with an incredible victory against Saint-Raphaël, where they led by 10 goals at halftime, resembling a defensive drill in transition so well executed it seemed effortless. Yet, facing Beaublanc this season has proven challenging for many opponents, and Dunkerque hopes to depart with a victory before their roster undergoes renewal. A new cycle will commence next season with a younger squad as veterans like Dragan Gajic retire. The Slovenian right winger, with 21 seasons as a professional, leaves with an illustrious career, including titles in France, Slovenia, and Hungary. His ability to score from tight angles, coupled with a unique shooting technique, made him a challenge for all goalkeepers. He aims to conclude his career on a high note, evident in his 8 goals in his last match against Créteil. However, besides Gajic, departures include Jure Dolenec, David Estepa, and Angel Martinez, marking a new phase in the club's development, poised for European competition next year if they perform consistently in the remaining three matches. With this context, we believe Limoges should prevail over their opponents tonight, but it won't be easy. Limoges' offensive style aligns well with Dunkerque's defensive qualities, emphasizing strength over mobility. Dunkerque possesses ample strength, but the key player to watch is Ihor Turchenko. The Ukrainian left-back is agile and quick, impactful both from long range and in duels or off-the-ball movement. He is expected to play a pivotal role in Limoges' victory.

Dunkerque's defense will hold firm, but their lack of offensive depth will allow Alberto Entrerios' men to gradually assert dominance in the half-court game. This match will be a classic battle, played out more in the half-court than in open space, given the experienced players on both teams.
Limoges is likely to emerge victorious in a closely contested match, decided by less than 3 goals and with a total score around 30 goals. The path to European competition will be clear, and Beaublanc eagerly anticipates it.

MONTPELLIER HANDBALL VS HBC NANTES 17/05/2024 - 8PM

Shock with nothing at stake
Here's a clash at the top between the third and second in the standings. Unfortunately, it lacks the excitement of big matches because neither team has anything to play for anymore. Barring a catastrophe, positions will remain unchanged until the end. Even if either team loses or Paris slips up, it's unlikely to change much over the remaining 3 matches. However, we expect a high-quality handball match.

The Montpellier players, who could have made it to the Final Four of the Champions League, unfortunately lost by 10 goals after winning by 9 in the first leg. A radical change, especially in shooting efficiency. Hopefully, the international break has refreshed their minds because it will be difficult to recover from such a setback. And facing an opponent of this caliber, they could psychologically crumble if Nantes puts pressure on them. We know the Montpellier pride, but here's how we see the match.

Nantes' defense will be very mobile and aggressive, disrupting Montpellier's movement game. Then, a relentless fast-paced game either with Kauldi Odriozola returning on his right wing and on fast breaks, or through quick transitions led by Aymeric Minne. We see a suffocated MHB unable to impose their rhythm, and the gap should widen as the match progresses. The aforementioned playmaker should once again be the main architect of his team's victory and the offensive quality of their game. Both an organizer and a sharp attacker capable of hitting the mark on every opportunity. We see Arthur Lenne and Veron Nacinovic, the Montpellier pivots, struggling against Nantes' mobility. Both teams are very mobile, but these two players may struggle in this type of match.

Nantes should confirm their place in the standings and their superiority, finishing second ahead of Montpellier.
The match will be very dynamic and should end with a 36-30 victory for H. Patrice Canayer will wait for the last home match to finish with a victory at the FDI Stadium, formerly known as Bougnol, where he has shone so much.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN HANDBALL VS USAM NÎMES GARD
19/05/2024 - 5PM

Only two more to go
As you've been told, Paris has shifted its focus to their main goal, the championship. Despite their failures in the Coupe de France and the Champions League, they maintain a high cruising pace that should allow them to finish as champions despite a great season from Nantes. But the magical trio is undoubtedly above this championship. Elohim Prandi, Luc Steins, and Kamil Syprzak dominate their opponents almost single-handedly. While they were certainly tired or even exhausted at the crucial moment of the Champions League quarter-finals, they have carried PSG throughout this long season.

And this should still be the case in the remaining three matches, starting with this first one against Nîmes. Indeed, there's a power dynamic that the Nîmes team cannot contain, and that's the size of the Polish pivot. Faced with the rather small stature of the Nîmes players, he should easily surpass 10 goals, perhaps even breaking his season goal record. For example, Tom Poyet and Benjamin Gallego, the Nîmes pivots, are over 25 centimeters shorter than him. It's safe to say they will struggle to defend against him if the opposing passers' technical precision is on point.
The primary ball provider should be Nikola Karabatic. Before his last match at Bercy, he must conclude at Coubertin in a grand manner. Being a man of challenges, he surely has this idea in mind and should deliver a great performance for PSG fans. The last matchday will understandably be for fans from all over France and the world to acclaim him as he deserves. By the way, as an anecdote, he replaces the number of victories in the European championship and adds the missing one on the photos issued by the French team for signing. So, it's a significant challenge for this great man.
He will accomplish it against a struggling Nîmes team, especially in offensive difficulties. Only Quentin Minel could exploit his long-distance shots and his unique finishing style.

Paris will continue their journey towards the title and should win convincingly with a score of 36-26. One more victory, and the title will be theirs.

SAINT-RAPHAËL VHB VS US CRÉTEIL HANDBALL
17/05/2024 - 8PM

Record goals?
Be wary of the upcoming match for Saint-Raphaël. However, such a situation has already occurred before the break on Dunkerque's side. The players were nowhere to be found, showing no pride or even a slight rebellion to get back on track. Consequently, they logically lost 37-33 while Créteil moved out of the relegation zone. Their back-and-forth battle with Saran continues. However, at the moment, they've gained the upper hand with a solid draw against Limoges. As we've mentioned, every single point until the end of the season will be crucial for survival. Another draw against Saint-Raphaël would certainly reignite their hopes. But for that, they'll need to score as much as the Var team.

Looking at the end of the championship, it seems advantageous for Saran. After this challenging away game in the Var region, Créteil will host PSG before traveling to Cesson. So, they really have in mind the importance of gaining points this Friday. However, achieving this would require defending as effectively as Dunkerque and efficiently supporting each other. The offensive style of Saint-Raphaël aligns well with the opponents' defensive weaknesses. José Marquez's upper body strength will likely win most of his duels against the physical challenges posed by the opposition. Moreover, Mario Lopez's defensive struggles in his primary position will give Raphaël Caucheteux and Drevy Paschal ample opportunities to challenge the Créteil goalkeepers. These three men will enable Saint-Raphaël to surpass 37 goals.

But beware, Créteil can do the same. With their speed around the crossover movements, they should find many solutions in the Saint-Raphaël defense. Indeed, the latter lacks mobility and defends far from each other, making them vulnerable to penetration. Créteil should also exceed 35 goals. In a match where both teams give their all, we might witness a record number of goals this weekend.

Nevertheless, the experience of Benjamin Braux's men should make the difference. Therefore, we anticipate a high-scoring game where Saint-Raphaël could emerge victorious with a score of 40-38. It's the epitome of modern handball, but don't forget to defend nonetheless.

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