Cologne (Germany) (AFP)

In the aftermath of their suspected defeat against Aalborg, Paris Saint-Germain remobilized on Sunday to beat Nantes and take third place in the Handball Champions League.

A consolation prize far from erasing a new failure in Cologne.

Winner 31 to 28 in the "small final", the Parisian club was scared in the second half after a first act concluded with four lengths in advance (17-13).

Nantes relied on goalkeeper Cyril Dumoulin, on a good day.

Established in place of the Danish Emil Nielsen, Dumoulin slowed down the Parisian assaults, giving his attackers opportunities to pick up the score.

But in the last ten minutes, the champion of France took advantage of several missed passes of the "H", beaten on Saturday by FC Barcelona (31-26), to counter-attack and regain the ascendancy in the score.

His dream of European coronation gone, PSG finished for the fourth time on the third step of the podium in five participations in the Final Four, after 2016, 2018 and 2020.

But what frustration will this 2021 edition leave!

It was a great opportunity to make it to the final once again, four years after losing breath in front of Vardar Skopje.

Because it is neither the Macedonian formation, nor the Polish giant Kielce (2016), nor Nantes (2018), nor FC Barcelona (2020) that blocked his way this time.

But a Danish club, new to this level of competition.

The Parisians will long be blamed for their defensive bankruptcy in front of Aalborg in the second half (22 goals conceded!) After leading by five goals.

Despite the financial resources invested since 2012 by its Qatari leaders, PSG has still not succeeded in becoming European champion and this 2021 edition will undoubtedly leave it with a bitter taste for a long time.

If the failure persists on the European front, the Parisian team has nevertheless managed to maintain its domination on French soil by winning a seventh league title in a row.

But in view of the club's great ambitions, this is insufficient.

With two trophies (2003, 2018), Montpellier remains the only French club crowned in the most prestigious European competition.

Barça, in search of a tenth record trophy, faces Aalborg in a duel of extremes in the C1 final (6:00 p.m.).

Should there be any further surprises, Aalborg would become the first Danish club to put their name on the competition's record.

© 2021 AFP