It was crunch time for Paris! Engaged in a fierce battle for the league title, the capital club played host to Chartres looking to maintain the lead over closest rival, Nantes, who faced Chambéry at the same time. For the penultimate match of the season at Coubertin, Les Rouge et Bleu had to avoid the trap set by Chartres, who are fighting to secure their place in the top flight. With five matches left to play, every victory was more precious than ever.
Aiming to widen the onpe-point gap between them and the drop zone, Chartres came out all guns blazing in an attempt to unsettle the Parisians. However, thanks to a thunderous strike from Elohim Prandi, the capital club soon took the lead (6': 4-3). Paris seemed to have got the measure of their opponents, but Chartres continued to play an ambitious game.
Thanks to a lightning-fast counter-attack launched by Sebastian Karlsson, followed by another breakthrough from Elo’, Les Rouge et Bleu pulled away as the first quarter of an hour drew to a close (14': 10-7). French international Prandi, in fine form, had already scored his fourth goal of the match, as had his strike partner Yahia Omar at this early stage. Stefan Madsen’s men, equally effective in defence, took a clear lead (20': 15-9).
The capital club kept up the pressure and looked every bit the league leaders in front of their fans at Coubertin. After a surprise start from the visitors, the league leaders responded decisively to build a comfortable lead by half-time (30': 18–13) - which they would go on to quadruple in the second half. The Parisians were determined to stay focused, and Mikkel Lovkvist took advantage of an empty Chartres goal to score an opportunistic strike (34': 20-14), adding to his six saves.
Yahia Omar, another player in fine form, started the second half at a blistering pace, spearheading his team’s attacks and putting the opposition defence under pressure. In goal, Mikkel continued to frustrate Chartres, who were unable to find a way through. The Parisian goalkeeper saved 63% of the opposition’s shots and remained one of the key figures of the match. With fifteen minutes to go, Luka Karabatic added his name to the scoresheet as the capital club put on a masterclass (45': 29-15).
Mateo Maras became Paris’s 13th goalscorer of the day, a testament to the team’s wide-ranging attacking threat and the full involvement of the squad. While having a well-earned breather, Yahia Omar handed the attacking reins to an inspired Luc Steins, who also scored six goals in the match. Stefan Madsen can be pleased with a superb performance from his players, who delighted the supporters who had turned out at Coubertin.
Prandi, for his part, made a sensational return to the court, setting up a magnificent kung-fu for Maras (54': 36-17). Paris pulled away, and with an inspired goalkeeper setting a new personal saves record (20), they never looked back. In an intense final sprint, the capital club secured a fine victory at Coubertin, putting on a spectacular attacking display to record their biggest win of the season (60': 40-20).
Man of the match: Mikkel Lovkvist (20 saves, 65%, one goal)
Elohim Prandi: eight goals; Yahia Omar, Luc Steins: six; Gautier Loren, Mateo Maras: four; Kamil Syprzak, Sebastian Karlsson: three; Ferran Sole, Wallem Peleka, Sindre Heldal, Luka Karabatic, Simen Lyse: one. Jannick Green: three saves.
Just four matches remain in this season’s Liqui Moly StarLigue. The Parisians will be away next weekend, taking on Sélestat at 17:00 on Sunday 10 May. Then comes a clash that could prove decisive in the title race, as they play host to Nantes at the AccorArena on 27 May. With a two-point lead, Les Rouge et Bleu can keep their fate in their own hands, but this match is already shaping up to be a titanic encounter.
