PARIS
vs
Fenix Toulouse Handball
The club was launched in 1964 as part of the Toulouse Sporting Association of Aeronautic Establishments, and successively bore the names Stade Toulousain, Sporting Toulouse 31 and Spacer’s de Toulouse Handball, among others, until settling on FENIX Toulouse Handball in 2011.
The south-western outfit has benefitted from the acumen of some major figures at the helm, such as Claude Onesta (1987-2001), Joêl Da Silva (2011-2014), and Philippe Gardent (2015-2021).
The team has competed in the top flight since 1996, relying on a core of promising starlets throughout the Claude Onesta years, such as Jérôme Fernandez, Stéphane Plantin and Bruno Martini. During season 2017/18, Toulouse finished seventh in the Liqui Moly Starligue; highlights of the campaign included impressive away successes over Dunkerque and Chambéry.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
On March 18, 2018, both teams had met in the League Cup final, with a 40-30 final victory for the Parisians.
On 2019/20, the Red and Blue had won 34-28 against Toulouse on Liqui Moly Starligue matchday 4 at Coubertin, with 7 goals from Nedim Remili. On February 6, 2020, for the return match in Haute-Garonne, the Parisians had defeated them once again 36-28, including 10 goals from Mikkel Hansen.
On October 9, 2020, the Parisians received Toulouse in Coubertin on matchday 4. Led by a great performance from Nikola Karabatic, who scored 9 goals, the Red and Blue won 41-35.
Despite the European ambitions of Fenix Toulouse Handball, the Red and Blue won 40-28 thanks to an impressive game of Nedim Remili who scored 9 goals including 7 in the first half.
It was a special game for Luc Steins, who was a Toulouse player until November 2020 before being loaned to Paris Saint-Germain Handball during the season. The Dutch player became one of the vital elements of the team and signed a contract with the Red and Blue in March 2020 until 2024.
On May 14, 2022, Paris Saint-Germain received Toulouse at Coubertin for a French Cup semi-final. Thanks to a great performance of Dainis Kristopans, the Red and Blue won 39-32 and will play the final at the Accor Arena in Bercy against HBC Nantes.
Players to follow Duel
The youngest brother of Nikola Karabatic, Luka plays in a pivotal position for both club and country. Transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2015, a few weeks before his brother, he began his career at Montpellier Handball in 2009, before spending four seasons at Pays d'Aix Université Club Handball between 2011 and 2015. On March 29, 2017, Paris Saint-Germain hosted FENIX Toulouse in the Liqui Moly Starligue championship. During this match, Luka Karabatic found the net 9 times, setting his new career personal record.
Born on August 12, 1990, in Jasselt, Belgium, Jef Lettens joined Fénix Toulouse Handball in the 2019 season. He made his debut at Initia HC Hasselt, before joining Proligue and USM Saran in 2015, with whom he won the championship that same year. The following year, Jef discovered Liqui Moly Starligue with Cesson Rennes Métropole Handball, before signing a contract with HBC Nantes in 2018. Since his arrival at Fénix de Toulouse in the 2019 off-season, the match against Saint-Raphaël remains his benchmark performance to this day, with 15 saves, his record since the start of the season.
The Palais des Sports André Brouat
3 rue Pierre Laplace - 31 000 Toulouse
Refurbished and inaugurated in September 2006, the Palais des Sports André Brouat is the official venue of the FENIX Toulouse Handball and Toulouse Volley Spacer's, both of which play at the highest national level. With a total capacity of 4,200 seats, the venue has the particularity of having a green roof.
Located in the heart of the pink city, close to the Canal du Midi, the André Brouat Sports Centre is accessible by public transport, in particular by metro and line B, at the Canal du Midi and Compans Caffarelli stops. From the Toulouse Matabiau train station, it takes only about 20 minutes to walk to the venue. Numerous car parks are also available near the site.
