Alongside Nantes, Paris are the only top-flight side to have won their first three league matches, and they are now set for one of the toughest away fixtures of recent seasons: Limoges. Two weeks on from a hard-fought victory at Le Phare in Chambéry (29-32), Stefan Madsen and his men will now be looking to make their mark at the Palais des Sports de Beaublanc. Since their historic promotion in 2020, Limoges have continued to improve under coach Alberto Entrerrios. Last season, the former Nantes boss led LH87 to a fourth-placed StarLigue - the best in club history.
Over the summer, the club’s management gave their Spanish coach - who has formed a dynamic duo with assistant coach José Manuel Sierra, a former PSG Handball goalkeeper (2012-2014) - the resources he needs to succeed. So far this season, Limoges have shown their mettle against Saint-Raphaël (36-31) and Caen (38-23), and they were left with plenty of regrets following a shock defeat to Starligue newcomers Saran in their first match at Beaublanc for the season (28–30). This is proof that Limoges side are still finding their feet following a raft of changes this summer.
Having reached the quarter-finals of the EHF European League in the 2024–2025 season - the club’s first and only European qualification to date - Limoges have high ambitions for this new campaign. During that historic first European campaign, LH struggled in the domestic league, finishing in eighth place. This season, the aim is clearly to be competitive on all fronts. Thus, despite the departure of key players such as Ihor Turchenko (Nantes), Faruk Yusuf (Kielce) and Andréa Guillaume (Toulouse), Alberto Entrerrios will be able to count on a squad of the highest quality for the coming season.
The most notable summer signing is probably Valentin Kieffer. Voted best goalkeeper in the top flight in 2024 whilst still playing for Dunkerque, the French international was once again among the finalists in this category last season following an impressive campaign with Chambéry. The 27-year-old goalkeeper wasted no time in settling into his new surroundings, turning in a stellar performance against Caen last week, with 19 saves 53 per cent clip!
Valentin Kieffer is not the only big star - nor the only member of the French national team - to have joined Limoges this summer. After a one-season spell in Bucharest, Tom Pelayo has made his grand return to France, every bit the prolific goalscorer he was when he left. The Starligue’s top scorer in 2024-25 (241 goals for Dunkerque) will take over from Faruk Yusuf, who has moved to Kielce and whose two seasons on loan in Limoges will be long remembered (142 goals and 131 assists last season).
These two players, who were recently honoured at the LNH Awards, join a club already brimming with star power, including Alberto Entrerrios (voted Starligue Coach of the Year in 2021), Jules Lignières (voted Proligue MVP with Frontignan in 2025) and Gauthier Ivah (voted Proligue’s best goalkeeper with Cherbourg in 2022).
Having lost their home opener against Saran (28-30), Limoges will be hungry to bounce back this weekend! All the more so as LH are one of the few teams to have lost 100 per cent of their matches against Paris (12 matches, 12 defeats). That said, the last two encounters at Beaublanc have been particularly close. In September 2024, Yahia Omar secured victory for his side with eight seconds left on the clock (29-30), while it wasn’t until the dying moments that Stefan Madsen’s men finally pulled away last April (28-32).
Once again this season, Limoges have some real strengths to watch out for. The first is Valentin Kieffer, who already seems to have found his rhythm with 15 and 19 saves in the last two matches respectively. On the court, the standout player of the early season is Jules Lignières, their top scorer and assist provider after three matchdays (13 goals, 22 assists).
From a team perspective, the statistics speak for themselves - and promise a thrilling match. With 102 goals scored so far, Alberto Entrerrios’s side boasts the third-best attack in the top flight, but also stands out in defence. As well as having the second-tightest defence - behind our Parisians (84 goals conceded, compared to 79 for Paris) - Limoges have also made the most interceptions after three matchdays (20).
Matchday 4 kicks off this Friday evening with six matches on the programme, including Montpellier, who will be looking to bounce back at Sélestat after being comprehensively beaten last week in their clash with Nantes (31-36). Dunkerque, for their part, face the tough task of travelling to Le Parnasse to take on Nîmes, hoping to end their run of three defeats in as many matches this season. Among the other Friday fixtures, newly promoted sides Saran and Caen travel to Saint-Raphaël and Aix respectively. Chambéry take on Tremblay at Le Phare, whilst Chartres play host to Cesson-Rennes. On Sunday, Nantes close the round against Toulouse at The H Arena.
This Starmatch between Limoges and Paris Saint-Germain Handball kicks off at 19:00 on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The match will be broadcast live and exclusively on beIN SPORTS 3.
