Paris (AFP)

In a first shock for the title race, PSG continued its flawless lead in the French Handball Championship by winning its eleventh victory in eleven matches in Nantes, 26 to 24 on Sunday, and consolidated its leadership position.

In a ranking, whose significance is to be put into perspective because of the many postponements due to the pandemic, the Parisians (11 matches played) have six points ahead of Montpellier (9 matches) and seven over the promoted Limoges (12 matches).

With 13 points, Nantes remains at the foot of the podium.

Sunday, in the "H" Arena in Nantes, very silent because of the camera, Raul Gonzalez's men seized the first opportunity to distance one of their two main rivals for the national title, before their trip to Montpellier on Wednesday.

During the first twenty minutes, the two French teams engaged in the Champions League this season engaged in a real mano to mano fight.

Paris SG took advantage of a slump from Nantes, more than six minutes without scoring a goal, to take the advantage just before the break (28th, 10-11) and relied heavily on good form of his guardian.

Vincent Gérard once again multiplied the parries: 12 stops in the first period alone, 20 in total at 45%.

Inflicting a 3-0 return from the locker room, Luka Karabatic's teammates then mastered the second period from start to finish, the same Vincent Gérard signing a save on an opportunity for the Nantes to equalize (44th, 17-18).

Absence of Rock Feliho in defense, released through injury against Dunkirk on December 6, multiple shooting failures by Kiril Lazarov (4/10) who only released his counter in the 38th ... The individual performances of Olivier Nyokas and of Valero Rivera, authors of five goals each, as well as the good part of the young Danish goalkeeper Emil Nielsen could only delay the deadline, without avoiding defeat.

The "H" will pass a new test on Wednesday when they travel to Aix, which remains on a series of seven wins in eight games played, then will face Tremblay on December 23, before the international break.

In addition to the trip to Bougnol, the Parisians will host Dunkirk on December 19, before heading to Cologne to play the Final Four of the 2019/2020 edition of the Champions League (December 28 and 29).

© 2020 AFP