The wait is over! Our handball players returned to action with a high-stakes match: a Coupe de France quarter-final away to ProLigue side Saran. The Parisians had to approach the match with caution, as Saran had knocked out two Liqui Moly StarLigue teams in the previous rounds. This cup match was a great opportunity to get back into the swing of things, and the team had to put in the effort to avoid any surprises.
Stefan Madsen's men were coming off a spectacular match in Nantes (31-31), where they turned in a tremendous performance that boded well for the second half of the season. A month and a half later, Les Rouge et Bleu returned to action with a lively start to their cup quarter-final, which saw a flurry of goals as well as a string of saves from Jannick Green, who is already in fine form (5': 3-6). The tone was set!
Things were looking good for the capital club, who were focused and serious in the early stages, with Elohim Prandi scoring three goals and Mathieu Grébille celebrating his recent contract extension with a goal (10': 4-10). Full of desire and sharp in defence, the Parisians were on a roll in the first quarter of an hour, showing the full extent of their talent at both ends of the court.
When the attackers lacked cutting edge, they could always count on Green, who made an incredible nine saves in the first period. After a fast-paced start to the match, the action calmed down somewhat, and another goalkeeper, Saran's Louis Prevost, prevented the Parisians from extending their lead (25': 10-14). Fortunately, as half-time approached, the attacks regained their sparkle, and the capital club went into the dressing room with a comfortable lead in what was a very entertaining game (30: 12-19).
Luis Cruz's men were forced to react, and Stefan Madsen had to keep his squad focused to prevent the game from getting out of hand. The Parisian coach could count on his Norwegian recruit Simen Lyse, who scored with one of his first touches to kick off his team's second half (37': 14-20). Back on the court after EHF Euro 2026, where he played for his national team, the left-back showcased what he can bring to the team in the months to come.
Buoyed by their in-form goalkeepers, Saran closed the gap to three goals, and the Parisians had to really knuckle down with less than 20 minutes remaining (43': 18-21). Fortunately, a powerful shot from Prandi dampened the spirits of a Saran side whose sights were set on a home victory. The Parisians regained control of the game and did not allow Saran back into the running. Mateo Maras, who won bronze with Croatia at the European Championships, duly added his name to the scoreboard (52' 20-26).
In goal, Mikkel Lovkvist perfectly replaced Green, with eight decisive saves to maintain his team's lead. On the offensive side, Stefan Madsen can be satisfied with 11 different scorers tonight, including a fine performance from Noah Gaudin (four goals, eight assists). Les Rouge et Bleu, who led the whole time, deservedly marked their return to competition with a win (60': 25-30). They can now hope to build momentum in the coming weeks, with the long-awaited resumption of the EHF Champions League and the Liqui Moly StarLigue.
February promises to be an intense month for our Parisians, with two important away games coming up. The Liqui Moly StarLigue will resume in Dunkirk at 20:00 on 13 February 2026, with a fierce battle for the title in store. A few days later, the capital club will travel to Zagreb for what promises to be a spectacular Champions League match. See you at 18:45 on 18 February!