Even with a game late, Nikola Karabatic and others have a five-point lead over HBC, their first pursuer who shook them as they rarely are in France.
For this 14th day, the last before the winter break and then the Euro, the Parisians almost had to wait the last five minutes to pass the lead in front of the first time since the return from the locker room (27-26, 54th).
In difficulty against the Nantes cage, the capital club used numerical superiority (game without a goalkeeper) to return to the match and avoid a first defeat on the national scene since April and a loss in the Starligue against .. . Nantes (25-24) at Coubertin.
The misstep was clearly drawn when the champions of France were led by three goals in the last quarter of an hour (24-21, 47th).
And it took a great night for Vincent Gérard (15 saves, 35%) to keep his people in the game.
In attack, the solution often came from Benoît Kounkoud on his right wing (7 goals in 7 shots).
Usually so precise, the Parisian star Mikkel Hansen had an unusual waste on the penalty spot with two attempts stopped by his compatriot Emil Nielsen, another stopped by Mickaël Robin in the first period.
Enough to roar the H Arena where more than 10,000 people were expected.
Deprived of its captain Luka Karabatic and its other pivot, Kamil Syprzak, Paris was in difficulty in attack placed despite four days without playing.
An unusual rest allowed by the postponement of his Starligue match against Saran this weekend due to cases of Covid-19 in his opponent.
Before the dispersal of their internationals for the Euro, the two clubs have one final meeting in 2021: the League Cup Final 4 on Saturday and Sunday.
With the possibility of a revenge in the final if Paris beats Chambéry and Nantes defeats Montpellier in the semi-finals.
© 2021 AFP