PARIS
vs
Montpellier Handball
Founded in 1982, Montpellier Handball are the most decorated club in the history of French handball, having won 14 French league titles, 13 French Cup, 10 League Cup and 2 Champions League crowns. Montpellier Handball have been in the top flight since 1992, when they lifted the division two title.
They won their second Champions League title in 2017/18, beating HBC Nantes in the final. They finished runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain Handball in the Liqui Moly Starligue that same season. Melvyn Richardson's teammates finished once again at the second position of the 2018/19 Liqui Moly Starligue.
In the 2021/22 EHF Champions League group stage, the club finished in 4th place, behind Aalborg, Kiel and Szeged. After their victory over Porto in the playoff game, Valentin Porte's teammates have been defeated by Kielce in the Round of 8.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
On 2019/20 season, the Parisians have defeated them 35 - 30 at Coubertin on matchday 9, with a 100% shooting performance from Mikkel Hansen.
Moreover, the two teams had faced again in the League Cup's quarter finals on December 5, 2019, at Coubertin. The Parisians won 34-30 with a great match from Kamil Sypzark, who did the best to break through the opponent's defence! Final score, 34-30 and the Red and Blue get their ticket for the League Cup's Final4!
One of the greatest confrontations of the Liqui Moly Starligue season turned to the advantage of the Rouge et Bleu. Indeed, on April 17, 2021, Parisian players took a big step towards the French championship title by beating Montpellier 31-28. A victory in which Yann Genty was one of the main participants thanks to his decisive saves during the second half that allowed the team to break away from Montpellier.
On May 15, 2021, Paris Saint-Germain Handball had to defeat Montpellier again to win their fifth French Cup title. The battle between the two teams, which were exceptionally relocated to the Palais des Sports in Créteil, was intense, but Raul Gonzales' men made the difference and won 26-30 in a match where Dylan Nahi was imperial with 7 goals scored.
On April 21, 2022, the two rivals were again confronted in a quarter-final of French Cup played at Coubertin. Paris Saint-Germain won 41-24 against the MHB.
On the matchday 25 of the 2021/22 Liqui Moly Starligue season, Paris Saint-Germain faced once again the MHB and its 14 French championship titles. After a closely fought match against Montpellier, PSG won 37-33 and officialized this day its 9th title of French champion.
Players to follow Duel
Born on November 26, 1999, in Créteil, Yoann Gibelin joined the training center of his hometown club before making his professional debut in 2017. After being relegated to the Proligue at the end of the 2016/17 season, US Créteil could rely on the performances of its young left back to make a comeback in the Liqui Moly Starligue two years later. Known for his defensive qualities, Yoann Gibelin still scored 92 goals in 27 D1 games during the 2021/22 season. By signing for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2022, the French player intends to pass a milestone in his career by playing his first minutes in the EHF Champions League under his new colors.
Revealed at Fenix Toulouse, Valentin Porte proved his worth in the Liqui Moly Starligue before getting his first selection for the French national team in 2013. In the summer of 2016, he decided to join Montpellier Handball, with whom he won the Champions League in 2018. Becoming a key player in the national team, the right winger was a central element to the gold medal won by France at the Olympics in Tokyo 2020. With his experience at national and international level, Valentin Porte was rewarded at the end of 2021 by becoming captain of the selection by replacing Michaël Guigou.
The Palais des Sports René Bougnol
1 000 avenue Val de Montferrand - 34 090 Montpellier
Inaugurated in 1977, the Palais des Sports René Bougnol is Montpellier Handball's emblematic venue, where the club has won the majority of its trophies. A hall dedicated to the practice of handball, and therefore to the MHB, Bougnol can accommodate 2,900 spectators and is today one of the most beautiful venues in France.
During the 2018/19 season, the club had the second best attendance in the Liqui Moly Starligue, behind HBC Nantes. The league's big games against Paris Saint-Germain and the EHF Champions League can be played at the Sud de France Arena. This arena can accommodate more than 10,000 spectators in match configuration.
The site is easily accessible by public transport, including tram line 1 and city bus line 10. It also has numerous car parks nearby, making it easier for spectators from further afield to access the site.
