Handball: a first real test for PSG against Kielce

We take the same ones and start again. Defeated at the gates of the Final Four final last June by Kielce, PSG finds the Polish club in the Champions League this Wednesday at 18:45 to really launch its European campaign.

Unbeaten after two games, the capital club still needs to reassure on the big stage. Not necessarily very convincing at home against Zagreb (35-31) and Szeged in the opening (31-29), the Parisians will have to do better and especially wash the affront of last season, with this defeat of a small point (24-25) in the semifinals still across the throat.

"It's going to be a tough game. I expect a physical match between two of the best teams in Europe. But, I feel that we are ready and that we definitely have a chance to get a good result," said new PSG full-back Kent Tønnesen, on the EHF website.

"It's about such small details"

If PSG lost in their last confrontation, the Parisians will be able to count on a very small psychological advantage. Out of their twelve official matches, Nikola Karabatic's teammates have won 7 times for 5 losses. Another advantage: Kielce has already lost in this Champions League with a defeat of entry on its lawn against Aalborg (31-34). So the pressure is on the Polish team.

[MATCHDAY 🔴🔵]
💥 Kielce
📍Hala Legionow
🏆 EHFCL
⏰ 18:45
📱🖥💻 Eurosport#Handball #Paris #PSG #PSGHand #Sport #EHFCL #ChampionsLeague #Kielce #KIELCEPSG pic.twitter.com/LWnBy8BBRq

— PSG Handball (@psghand) September 27, 2023

On the PSG side, the ambition is always the same: to fill up as quickly as possible to secure a place in the Final Four. "The desire and ambition is to go to the Final Four in Cologne, repeats since the beginning of the season Thierry Omeyer the Parisian general manager. Once there, we play two games in 24 hours and it's played on such small details... »

The first axis to work on at the beginning of the campaign, defense. PSG have always conceded at least 27 points in the Champions League or league since the beginning of the season. Wednesday's match (18:45 on Eurosport) promises to be more closed.