Paris (AFP)
Montpellier handball players came back to four points behind the Parisian leader thanks to their home victory against Ivry 34 to 26, Friday during the 17th day of the French championship
With 14 matches played each, Parisians and Montpellierers are separated by four points in the standings, 28 for the six-time French champion PSG and 24 for the MHB.
The Parisians will travel to Chartres on Saturday for their 15th game of the season, while the two leading teams in the championship have several games late, due to the Covid-19 pandemic (three for Montpellier and two for Paris).
Friday at home in their room in Bougnol, Valentin Porte's teammates took about forty minutes to take the measure of Ivry, who is fighting at the bottom of the standings for maintenance (14th and first non-relegation with 7 points in 13 matches) .
Sweden's Lucas Pellas, vice-world champion at the end of January in Egypt, shone on his left wing with a nice eight out of nine, his team's top scorer, to bring back a smile to his teammates, beaten for the first time this season in the European League (2nd continental level) this week against Magdeburg (32-30).
"We played the rotations, which we missed against Magdeburg. Everyone was efficient and I remember the second period which was completed defensively or in the transition game", appreciated the captain Hérault after the meeting at microphone of the National Handball League.
Behind Montpellier, Limoges continued their excellent season, and won at home against Saint-Raphaël 31 to 29. The Limougeauds total 22 points, in 3rd place in the Starligue, with 16 matches on the clock, while the Var remain 7th with 15 points in 16 matches.
The poster for the 17th day will oppose Nantes (5th, 17 pts, 12 matches) to Aix (4th, 21 pts, 12 matches), Sunday at the end of the afternoon (5 p.m.).
tba / bpa
Handball (men)
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