It was the shock of this third day championship of France Starligue de handball. A match that already weighed heavily in the merciless fight that HBC Nantes and the
Montpellier Handball to clinch a second qualifying place in the Champions League behind the untouchable PSG. And the least we can say is that the people of Nantes marked the spirits this Sunday evening: victory flawless 34-28!
An unexpected gap acquired in the first period (20-11) thanks to an impassable Nielsen goalkeeper (eleven stops in 30 minutes). Pushed by a excited public (5,900 spectators) who made their return to the H Arena after several months of abstinence due to health restrictions, Alberto Entrerrios’ players were able to content themselves with calmly managing the second half. In the presence of its Olympic champion Hugo Descat, but without Valentin Porte, injured, Montpellier, vice-champion of France 2021, did not exist.
🎨 Back on the awesome tifo of @supportersultrh ahead of the game.
🙌🙌🙌🙌#HBCNMHB pic.twitter.com/qgAzk1Taex
– HBCNantes (@HBCNantes) September 26, 2021
“We did not know how to avoid chaos”
“We were expected at the turn because we had not made a good start to the season. There, I think we sent a message to the whole championship. We are going to start scaring everyone again ”, rejoices“ relieved ”the Nantes international Aymeric Minne. “I was expecting a much closer match”, appreciates Alberto Entrerrios.
“Our first half was catastrophic at all levels, laments Patrice Canayer, the Montpellier coach. We bowed our heads and we couldn’t avoid chaos. When you have a save ratio of 1 to 10, it’s unplayable. Credit goes to Nielsen. “