This clash between the two most successful teams in French handball will carry particular significance this Sunday. Having been relegated to third place behind our Les Rouge et Bleu and Nantes for several seasons now, Montpellier could find themselves falling further behind – before the season is even a third of the way through – should they suffer a defeat on Sunday.
With two draws and one defeat after eight matchdays, the southwesterners are already four points behind the capital club and two behind The H. Although this gap is of lesser importance since the introduction of end-of-season play-offs, Erick Mathé’s men will certainly be looking to regain confidence. Having been knocked out of the Champions League group stage, MHB are now forced to focus on domestic competitions and the EHF European League.
Things are going swimmingly for Paris. Following a hard-fought battle, the capital club pulled clear of Aalborg and secured top spot in Group C, advance to the main round of the Champions League with three points already on the board. In the league, the record is even more impressive, with eight wins from as many matches. Boasting the best defence and the second-strongest attack in the top flight, Paris are shining – and delighting their supporters.
A few days after a high-profile European clash, it is now a Starligue showdown that awaits the crowd at Coubertin on Sunday. To beat Montpellier, Stefan Madsen’s men would do well to take a look back at their record: the current run of 14 consecutive home league wins against Montpellier is the capital club’s longest against any top-flight opponent.
To mark this very special match for the Club – and for him personally – Mathieu Grébille has created a poster inspired by the fixture. From conception to completion, our winger – who also designed the Daikin Starligue match ball for the 2026–2027 season – did it all by hand. A true work of art that will be available in a very limited edition this Sunday at Coubertin! It’s your chance to witness a French handball classic and take home a memorable souvenir!
On Sunday, Paris and Montpellier will face each other for the second time this season. The two sides previously met in Aix-en-Provence on 30 August to contest the Trophée des Champions. At the end of a nail-biting match, played in an equally electric atmosphere, Stefan Madsen’s men knocked out the defending champions (21-20). It was a special match in every respect, Paris cementing its status as the most successful team in the competition (six titles, two more than Montpellier), while Luka Karabatic, with 22 trophies to his name, became the most decorated Parisian in club history.
The last few tickets to see this clash are still available from the club’s official ticket office! For those who can’t make it to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, the match will be broadcast live and exclusively on beIN SPORTS 1 on Sunday at 17:00.
