Paris (AFP)
Nantes handball players, thanks to decisive saves from Danish goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, won in pain 30 to 28 against Zagreb on Tuesday night at home, in a late match in the group stage of the Champions League.
Nantes won for the fifth time this season in C1 and consolidated their 6th place in the standings of their group with 10 points on the clock, two matches from the end of the group stage.
They are one point behind 5th place occupied by the Germans in Kiel (11 points, 10 games played), reigning European champions and next "H" opponents from Thursday.
On Tuesday in their H Arena, the Nantes team almost offered Zagreb the first victory of the European season, failing three times on jets from 7 meters (twice by Valero Rivera and once by Kiril Lazarov) in the last ten minutes .
But in the goals of the "H", they could count on the prowess of Nielsen, author of his four saves of the evening at the best time at the end of the meeting.
Rivera finished the game with 10 goals, but his two failures at 7 meters late in the game could have cost Nantes dearly.
Alberto Entrerrios' players have now caught up in the Champions League, after several matches postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
After the reception of Kiel on Thursday, they will travel to Hungary to Veszprem next Wednesday for the last game.
After the remodeling of the C1 decided by the European Federation (EHF), the Nantes people are guaranteed to participate in the knockout stages of the Champions League at the end of March and the beginning of April.
Before going to Hungary, the Nantes residents will travel to Ivry on Sunday afternoon, on behalf of the 18th day of the French Championship.
© 2021 AFP