Montpellier achieved a feat by winning Thursday at Barcelona (37-34), European cador, and finished fourth in its group in the Handball Champions League at the end of the 14th and final day.
A place synonymous with a more accessible play-off and with a return match at home.
The Héraultais (14 pts), who needed a draw to get back in front of the Danes of Gudme (5th, 13 pts), did better with this first victory in their history at the Palau Blaugrana.
They won against the Catalans who were already assured of a direct ticket to the quarter-finals but who were aiming for first place in Group B (they finished second behind Magdeburg).
The MHB will face Zagreb in the play-offs for the quarter-finals (first leg on March 27-28, return at home on April 3-4) rather than the Poles from Kielce - finalists of the last two editions - who would have been their opponents in the event of of defeat on Thursday.
Although diminished by numerous injuries (Ahmed Hesham, Diego Simonet, Kyllian Villeminot, Lucas Pellas), the team led by Patrice Canayer took Barça at its own game, fast, feeding on numerous stray balls (16).
Behind by a length at the break (18-19), in the second half she was able to contain Dika Mem (9 goals from 11 attempts) to go ahead in the 43rd minute, driven by the major offensive performance of Bryan Monte (10/ 11).
The Brazilian left-back almost sealed the victory with a powerful shot fired into the Catalans' right corner (32-28, 55th).
The MHB was also able to count on some decisive saves from Charles Bolzinger (5 saves out of 19 attempts): entering the goal in the second half, the French international thus prevented Barça from coming back to a goal by diverting an attempt from Luis Frade (53rd, 30-28).
In the process, Yannis Lenne gave the Héraultais a three-goal lead for the first time.
PSG, third in Group A, will face Plock.
The Poles, executioners of Nantes in the play-offs last season (on penalties), dominated Porto on Thursday (29-28) in a decisive match for the last ticket in Group B.
Posters for the play-offs for access to the quarter-finals
(first leg March 27-28, return April 3-4)
Plock (POL) -
PSG
Zagreb (CRO) -
Montpellier
Szeged (HUN) - Veszprem (HUN)
Gudme (DEN) - Kielce (POL)
Directly qualified for the quarter-finals: Magdeburg (GER), FC Barcelona (ESP), Kiel (GER), Aalborg (DEN)