Kiel (Germany) (AFP)
After its inaugural defeat in the Champions League on September 16 at home against Vesprem, Nantes has spectacularly caught up by winning 35-27 (15-12) Thursday in Kiel, a stronghold of the German hand.
Leading almost from the start to the end of the match, the "H" battled in the first period to defend a slight advantage of two or three goals, then definitely gained the upper hand after the break against a helpless and unresolved Germans, thanks including 13 goals from his winger Valero Rivera.
Finalist of the 2018 edition (beaten in the final by Montpellier), the "H" inherited the worst possible group for his return to the Champions League for this 2020/2021 edition: in a pool of 8 teams, the Nantes people fell on Kiel, Vesprem and Barcelona, three of the four qualified for the Final 4 of the 2019/2020 season (with PSG), rescheduled at the end of December due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this new 2020/2021 edition, the first two of each group will be directly qualified for the quarter-finals, the teams classified up to 6th place will have access to play-offs.
This meeting marked the return of the public to the handball halls in Germany: some 2,000 spectators had been admitted to the large Arena in Kiel (10,300 seats) ... plus a few effigies of cardboard fans (without masks!), Installed in the first rows.
- Kiel suffocated -
As against Vesprem, and even better, Nantes got off to a remarkable start in the match, despite the absences of center-half Aymeric Minne and right-back Eduardo Gurbindo, both injured.
They quickly ensured a small safety margin, with a maximum gap of 4 goals (10-6, 18th), which forced the German coach to request a time-out to tighten the bolts.
The H was carried in front by Valero Rivera, author of seven goals out of the 15 in the first period, and behind by his goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, who imposed his athletic power, as on this rescue at the foot during a return to the race on a German counter (16th).
But while they had lost the physical fight at the end of the match against Vesprem (defeat 28-24) in their room, the Nantes people have this time suffocated their opponents.
Upon returning from the locker room, Rok Obvinek increased the lead to five goals, scoring twice consecutively (17-12, 32nd).
Then the gap widened minute after minute, and at no time did Kiel seem able to change pace to jostle the Nantes, who pocket a precious victory in this very tough group.
Bodes well for the players of the coach Alberto Entrerrios, three days before their entry into the Starligue, Sunday at home against Ivry.
© 2020 AFP