Paris (AFP)

By losing against the Norwegians Kristiansand 29 to 28, the Messines lost their invincibility at home in the Champions League, and made it difficult for themselves in the race for one of the first two places in their group.

In the Champions League, the Dragonnes had not lost in their arenas since the end of January 2017, but early Wednesday evening they had to lay down their arms against Kristiansand and his armada of Norwegian internationals, crowned European champions in December (six on the scoresheet).

With this fourth setback in this European 2020/21 campaign so special due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Emmanuel Mayonnade's players remain in 2nd place in their group with 14 points (11 matches played), one less than the Russians from Rostov (15 pts, 9 matches).

They see especially the Norwegians pounding on them, with 12 points but only seven matches on the clock for the teammates of the backs Henny Reistad and Nora Mork, and goalkeeper Katrine Lunde.

Kristiansand asserts itself as a contender for one of the first two places in the group, synonymous with direct qualification for the quarter-finals, while the teams classified from 3rd to 6th place will have to go through a jump-off.

On Wednesday, the Messines were inefficient in attack (37%) in attack in the first 30 minutes.

It was the Metz goalkeeper Hatadou Sako who kept them in contact, with 13 saves (16 over the entire game).

She allowed her teammates to return to the locker room at the break with only two goals behind (13-11).

During the second period, the reigning quadruple champions of France took control at the entrance of the last quarter of an hour (24-23, 47th), and had a ball to take two goals in advance, badly negotiated .

Mork, top scorer in Euro-2020, and Reistad hurt Messines, with eight and seven goals respectively.

With three goals behind (29-26) within three minutes, Metz could do nothing to pick up the score, despite the good second period of the pivot Astrid N'Gouan (six goals, as much as Orlane Kanor) .

Emmanuel Mayonnade's players will travel to Bietigheim (Germany) on Sunday for the 13th day of the group stage of the Champions League.

They will then receive Bucharest on February 13 for the 14th and last day and will still have to travel to Kristiansand, if the health situation allows.

© 2021 AFP