First a round of joy before a farandole to greet the public, once again a real eighth man for HBC Nantes, Saturday evening. Moreover David Balaguer, the Spanish winger of H, did not hide it after a success in extremis (40-36) of the dolphin of the PSG in front of Charters, however rejected far in the classification (11th) of the Liqui Moly Starligue: “It’s really an evening where the public carried us to the end, we were able to put the necessary commitment thanks to him. But no disrespect to Chartes, we can’t afford to lose a match like that. »
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However, it took about ten minutes for Chartres, in the lead at the break (19-21), to create the sensation of the evening of this 21st day of the national elite. Still endowed with a two-point lead six minutes from time (34-36), Chartres then suffered the return of Nantes who took advantage of a temporary exclusion for Sergey Kudinov (the 3rd in the match synonymous with a red card) to return to the score thanks to an inspired Rok Ovnicek (5/6).
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Behind, Mickael Robin, who came to the relay in the 20th minute from an uninspired Emil Nielsen (1 save on 15 shots), closed the shop and definitively showered the hopes of Chartres. Robin did well to postpone his retirement: his 14 saves on 36 shots (including 1/1 from the penalty spot) greatly helped Nantes to get out of this bad situation. After a new parade from the French, Théo Monar scored the goal of the seesaw (37-36, 57th). Chartres’ dream was over, after a 0-4 in the last four minutes.
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A little before, Montpellier had won the Hérault derby without discussion, in the cauldron of Nîmes, exceeded (33-23) even if in goal Rémi Desbonnet (13 saves at 31%) struggled. Led in particular by a once again twirling Diego Simonet (8/9), an impeccable Lucas Pellas (6/6 including 2/2 pen.) and a Valentin Porte full of pep (3/3), Montpellier flew over the debates.
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“We can only be proud. There, we spent a fortnight without seeing each other too much (due to the international truce in particular), I didn’t really know where we were. Spending ten in Nîmes, we could not have dreamed of better. It’s great, we produced quality play, showed a lot of solidarity. We ate our black bread well at the start of the season. There, I have the impression that we have freed ourselves ”, congratulated Valentin Porte at the microphone of beIN Sports. The Montpellier captain also seemed to be in a marked recovery after his physical and mental backlash which had made him give up the rally of the France team in mid-March.
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This Sunday, the 21st day will end with the clash of extremes between Nancy (16th and last) and PSG, undefeated leader who should see the return of Elohim Prandi, more than three months after the stabbing which he suffered on New Year’s Eve. Aix (3rd) will receive Chambéry (7th).
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