Paris (AFP)
PSG disposed of the Ukrainians of Zaporijie during the 4th day of the Champions League on Thursday in Coubertin, carried by their Olympic champions Nikola Karabatic and Nedim Remili.
Parisian coach Raul Gonzalez had decided not to start several executives of the team, such as the Karabatic brothers or even Nedim Remili, facing an apparently weaker opponent, penultimate of group B.
But the Ukrainian club, well in the game, held the Parisians in check for most of the first period, forcing Gonzalez to reconsider his plans.
In the 21st minute (10-10), Karabatic and Remili came into play for an immediate impact: three goals from Karabatic and four from Remili allowed PSG to return to the locker room with a clear advantage (19-14).
Alongside the two French internationals, it was Mikkel Hansen, another star of the Parisian workforce, who stood out, scoring six of his seven attempts on a seven-meter throw.
In the second period, the Parisians retained their advantage, even allowing themselves to turn in the last ten minutes, when the gap swelled to nine goals in advance.
"We knew that when we came back, we had to put in a lot of energy. Nikola had a lot + impact + their defense," said Nedim Remili after the meeting, before welcoming "a collective victory".
"Karabatic and Remili played very well today", rejoiced Raul Gonzalez, while regretting the "many defensive errors at the start of the match".
Thanks to this victory, Paris resumes its march forward after a 27-27 draw in the last moments against the Germans of Flensburg, and gains a place in group B. They are now 4th.
The Parisians can thus approach their next two meetings serenely, against two European leaders: they will travel to Barcelona (October 21) then to Poland to face Kielce (October 27).
© 2021 AFP