Since returning from the winter break, Les Rouge et Bleu have been in dazzling form. They’ve played nine matches, winning eight and conceding a draw on the buzzer awayto Pelister. This past week was particularly satisfying for Stefan Madsen’s men, who followed up a crucial league win on the road against Montpellier (30-32) to remain undefeated, before dominating reigning European champions Magdeburg at the Stade Coubertin on the final day of the EHF Champions League group stage (34-26).
This victory was all the more significant as it allowed Paris to hold onto fourth place, securing a home leg in the play-offs against Veszprém. Now, the team must stay focused against Toulouse, the final match before a week-long international break. Stefan Madsen and his men will once again need to show their mettle against a fellow European contender.
Having qualified for the EHF European League thanks to its fourth-place finish last season, Fénix struggled on the continental stage, finishing last in its group with six losses in as many matches against Vardar, Kristianstad, and Croatian side Sesvete. The Occitan club quickly put that disappointment behind them, however, and are now back in the running to return to European competition next season. They currently sit fifth, which would be enough to qualify thanks to the new format of European competitions implemented by the EHF.
However, they must watch out for Chambéry, who are keeping the pressure on, trailing Toulouse by just one point. This season, Danijel Andjelkovic’s men have pulled off several impressive wins, particularly on the road, with victories at Chambéry (31-33) and Limoges (30-35). They will therefore need to be wary of this team, which boasts several quality options in its roster.
One of the main threats Toulouse possess is undoubtedly Nemanja Ilic. The second-leading scorer in the top flight with 144 goals, the left winger is still at the top of his game at nearly 36 years of age. Top scorer in the Liqui Moly StarLigue in the 2022-23 season, in which he scored a staggering 202 goals, he is in the running to receive this honour for the second time in his career.
Beyond his goal total, it is the Toulouse captain’s efficiency that stands out. With an 80.9% shooting success rate since the start of the season, only Nantes’ Noam Leopold (81.82%) has done better among the top 25 scorers in the top flight after 19 matches. Having scored ten goals in Paris’ victory in Occitanie a few months ago (33-36), the Serbian could once again pose a threat at the Stade Coubertin, and the Parisian defence will need to be solid to counter the cunning of the Toulouse playmaker.
While Toulouse have struggled in front of goal — 13th attack in the league — the Occitan side has been rock-solid in defense. Only Paris has conceded fewer goals in the top flight than Fenix so far, potentially setting the stage for a thrilling tactical battle between Stefan Madsen and Danijel Andjelkovic. Imperious in defence (536 goals conceded), Paris nonetheless boast the second-best attack in the league behind Nantes.
The last few tickets are still available for what promises to be an exciting match at the Stade Coubertin, so don’t wait to get down and support Les Rouge et Bleu in this final match before the international break. For those of you that can't make it in person, the game will be broadcast live and exclusively on BeIN SPORTS 2.