Lucas Pellas (Montpellier HB) // Photo credit: Panoramic / K. Domas
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Beautiful Starligue Saturday for this 22nd day. After his feat in Kielce in the Champions League, Nantes could not grab one point on a trip to Toulouse (29-29). Nantes are now 9 points behind Montpellier who won serenely against Istres (33-24). In the fight for maintenance, Cesson-Rennes offered a valuable success against Chartres (31-24) while Créteil achieved a great feat in Chambéry (28-30).
Nantes draws a draw from Toulouse
If second place is clearly the goal of H, it will mean a victory against Toulouse at first. The H begins the meeting in a thunderous manner, relying on a privileged relationship with his pivot, Pechmalbec (1-3, 4 ′). While Nantes force the game a little around its pivot, Toulouse readjusts the sights and picks up quickly enough to score (6-6, 13 ′), despite a 7m post from Nemanja Ilic. Toulouse continued the work and even ended up taking the advantage following a good shift from Abdi to the right (9-8, 18 ′). Nantes is making things more difficult, first with messy transmissions then firing (3 pastis from Almeida in 21 minutes!). Entrerrios is forced to take his time to reframe his troops but without success following a new good Toulouse defense (11-9, 23 ′). Nantes obtains two penalties for two minutes, allowing them to pick up Toulouse then to take the advantage on a duel of Minne (13-14, MT). Toulouse has gradually raised its level of play, especially in defense. A few individual messes on the part of the Fenix were really detrimental, but there is room for the second half.
Toulouse comes back with good intentions in the second period, pushing each ball while Almeida makes several saves (17-16, 35 ′). The Fenix even gives us two kung fu, including one concluded by Nemanja Ilic with a chabala (18-17, 37 ′). Nantes multiplies the errors of shots and passes, while the Fenix will seek the Nantes backs outside the nine meters, logically Toulouse takes the lead (20-17, 43 ′). Uros Borzas is in Olympic form today, and will have done everything to the Nantes defense (6 goals already!) (23-19, 49 ′). The match tightens up during the moneytime, the Nantes defense changes and Nielsen makes a few saves (27-25, 57 ′). Toulouse began to gain the upper hand again at the very end, but Valero Rivera equalized at the very end of the match (29-29, SF). The Fenix thwarted the H thanks to a very aggressive defense and an Almeida (16 saves, 42%) of the big nights. Borzas (8 goals) was the executioner of H, who is doing well with a draw.
Montpellier takes over the job against Istres
Largely favorite of the meeting, the MHB did not give details and hangs a tenth consecutive victory in Lidl Starligue. From the start, the locals confirm their superiority by inflicting a 3-0 (3-0, 7 ′). Kevin Bonnefoi got off to a good start with 5 saves. However, the Montpellier residents do not increase their advantage (6-3, 13 ′). The premises are freed and take advantage of ball recoveries to make the hole. Julien Bos succeeds the shoot of +6, bigger gap so far (11-5, 20 ′). Montpellier masters the last 10 minutes before returning to the locker room. This is Melvyn Richardson who scores the last goal before the gong (18-10, MT).
Istres ideally starts this second act. The MHB is imprecise and the visiting club takes advantage with a 6-2 inflicted, which pushes Patrice Canayer to put his time-out (20-16, 38 ′). This short one-minute break is beneficial for the runners-up. They move forward and give each other fresh air less than 20 minutes from the end (24-17, 43 ′). The end is approaching, the Occitans have mastered their subject. Hugo Descat allows them to pass this symbolic bar of 10 goals ahead (32-22, 56 ′). There will be nothing else to report, Montpellier takes the 2 point lead with a 33-24 victory.
Cesson-Rennes outclasses Chartres
Cesson-Rennes easily took the measure of Chartrains not really in the game tonight. While they had surprised Chambéry and Aix on the outside, and much annoyed Montpellier to Jean Cochet, Toni Gerona’s men were heavily beaten by Cesson. The Bretons have put the necessary ingredients for this precious victory in the race to maintain. In the wake of the excellent Youenn Cardinal, author of 11 goals, Cesson led the entire match. The Rennes metropolitan club broke away just before half-time by inflicting a 4-0 to their evening visitors (15-10 at half-time). They did not relax their efforts in the second act, thus maintaining a gap with Chartres. Opposite, Vanja Ilic has often been good (7 goals for the Serbian), just like his Bulgarian teammate on the right, Dimitrov (5 goals), but Cesson wanted more and won 31-24.
The Bretons thus obtain two very precious points in the fight for maintenance which promises to be absolutely thrilling, even if difficult to read for the moment because of the late matches. Chartres, currently 10e, has only 2 more points but seems to be able to be more serene.
Créteil-Montpellier on 12.11.2020 LSL J13 // GIBELIN Yoann
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The pass of 3 for Créteil in Chambéry
Already surprised by Chartres on Wednesday at the Lighthouse, Chambéry lost again this evening against Créteil. The Cristoliens came to do a major feat in Savoy (28-30). Antoine Ferrandier’s teammates have a third success in a row against an uninspired Chambéry team this evening. On the Créteil side, the collective has put in the necessary ingredients with good saves from Dylan Be who confirms his potential every week (7 saves at 32%) and a Yoann Gibelin who took his responsibilities in attack (7/12). Despite the absence of Sissoko, Créteil controlled the match by taking the advantage after 10 minutes and keeping a lead throughout the game. Despite the few inspirations of Richert (8 goals) or Anquetil (5 goals), the Savoyards were never able to catch up with the visitors who did not finally tremble, like the impeccable Valentin Aman (7/8) .
Créteil therefore wins 28-30 and thus takes 3 points ahead of Ivry, the first relegation (but who is 3 games late). The US Créteil can thus continue to believe in its maintenance in this frantic race that is looming. Side Chambérien, the week was very gloomy and undoubtedly showered any European ambition. It will take a reaction for the Savoyards to avoid a difficult end of the season.
Results, schedule and standings here.
Julien Baudry, Tristan Paloc & Alexandre Riotte
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