Paris (AFP)

The Nantes handball players, carried by their center-half Aymeric Minne and their goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, won in Kielce 34 to 31 and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

For a place in Final 4, Rock Feliho's teammates will face Veszprem or Vardar Skopje in the quarter-finals, with the Hungarians on a favorable waiver after a success in the round of 16 first leg in Macedonia 41 to 27.

After the defeat in the first leg at the H Arena (25-24), Alberto Entrerrios' players were forced to perform on Polish soil.

And for 60 minutes, they deconstructed the Polish game set up by Spanish coach Talent Dujshebaev.

Even when Kielce accelerated and took control around the 40th minute (23-22, 44th), Nantes did not panic, gradually coming back to the score.

"We played really well as a team. It was a very difficult fight. Everyone played well, and it's a big surprise for all of us," commented Danish "H" goalkeeper Emil Nielsen. , author of 15 saves on 46 shots, after the meeting.

“It wasn't easier than we thought, but I think we were better than we could hope for. It was a tough season with a lot of injuries, and it has It was difficult in the fall for us, but we managed to turn the situation around, ”he added.

- Third consecutive quarter -

The goalkeeper, world champion at the end of January with Denmark under Mikkel Hansen in Egypt, regretted the low offensive efficiency of his team during the first leg and in particular the second period with only ten goals scored in the H Arena after the locker room.

On Wednesday, Nantes recovered French international Aymeric Minne as center-half, injured and away from the field since the end of February (he had notably missed the Olympic qualifying tournament in mid-March).

For his comeback, Minne was dazzling, scoring eight goals on ten shots.

"I have a thought for those who stayed at home but played the first leg. It is also thanks to them that we won this game and that we qualify today. a big fight. It's my first year in the Champions League and I'm already experiencing such emotions and it's great, "said Minne.

On his left wing and on the 7-meter line, the Spaniard Valero Rivera did not miss anything (9 of 9, including 6 penalties), while Kiril Lazarov was extremely valuable at the end of the game, in particular to deliver a few passes decisive genius.

Nantes can thus continue to dream of a second Final 4 in its history after 2018 and the final lost in Cologne against Montpellier, after a success in the semi-final against Paris.

This is the third consecutive qualification of Nantes for the quarterfinals of the C1 after 2018 and 2019 (due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the quarters had been canceled, and Paris, Veszprem, Kiel and Barcelona had been directly qualified. for the Final 4).

© 2021 AFP