Paris Saint-Germain - HBC Nantes tickets for the Liqui Moly StarLigue handball clash at Accor Arena Paris

Paris Saint-Germain against HBC Nantes: the handball summit of the French season in Bercy

Paris Saint-Germain Handball and HBC Nantes arrive at the Accor Arena with stakes that are very clear: this is a meeting of the two best teams at the top of the Liqui Moly StarLigue and a duel that can directly shape the final stage of the title race. According to the current standings after 27 matches played, Paris Saint-Germain is first with 53 points, and HBC Nantes second with 51 points. The Parisians have a record of 26 wins and 1 draw, without a defeat, while Nantes is also unbeaten, with 24 wins and 3 draws. The gap is small, but psychologically enormous: a victory opens the door for PSG to a calmer finish, while it gives Nantes the chance to turn the championship into a real sprint to the final round. Tickets for this encounter are sought after among fans because this is not an ordinary league evening, but a match with the weight of a final.

What is at stake

The match is played in the 28th round, therefore deep in the final stage of the championship. That changes the way every attack, every defence and every lost ball is read. PSG has built throughout the season the status of a team that breaks opponents with rhythm, squad depth and pressure in both directions. Nantes, on the other hand, is close enough that it is not coming just to "play a good match", but to attack first place. In practice, this means that the visitors will have to withstand the Parisians' initial surge, especially if PSG gets several easy goals from transition early.

For the home side, this is also an opportunity to confirm control over the championship in front of the big Parisian stands after a European disappointment. PSG was knocked out of the EHF Champions League play-off in April against One Veszprém HC, so the domestic title has even greater emotional significance. Nantes also has a European context: last season it returned to the Champions League Final Four, and this generation around Aymeric Minne, Thibaud Briet, Valero Rivera and Nicolas Tournat has enough experience not to be impressed by a large arena.

• Paris Saint-Germain Handball: 1st place, 27 matches, 53 points, 943 goals scored.
• HBC Nantes: 2nd place, 27 matches, 51 points, 983 goals scored.
• Gap in the table before this round: only 2 points.
• PSG has the best goal difference in the league: +192.
• Nantes has the most goals scored among the leading teams: 983.

PSG: depth, outside shooting and rhythm control

Paris Saint-Germain is led this season by Stefan Madsen, and the squad is built for high-intensity matches. Luc Steins remains the brain of the game at centre back, a player who speeds up ball circulation and opens space for shooters. Elohim Prandi is the main threat from distance, especially when he can step into a shot off the second step, while Jacob Holm and Yahia Omar add extra power to the back line. On the line is Kamil Syprzak, a pivot who changes the geometry of the defence because the opponent must constantly guard him with the body, not only with the eyes.

PSG has shown stability in its latest league appearances. It defeated Chartres 40:20, Sélestat 34:23, Cesson Rennes 34:31, Limoges 32:28 and Saint-Raphaël 36:34. This is not just a run of results, but the picture of a team that can win both an open match with many goals and a tougher encounter in which the advantage must be protected through the last ten minutes. Particularly important is the fact that PSG has not yet lost in the league this season, which adds extra pressure to every next match.

In defence, the home side will probably look for a way to slow Aymeric Minne and cut off the ball toward Nicolas Tournat. If PSG forces Nantes to attack too statically, Jannick Green and Mikkel Løvkvist will get more chances for saves from prepared positions. If, however, Nantes finds its rhythm early, the home side will have to react much faster with substitutions and rotation in the middle of the defence.

Nantes: a team coming for the title, not for the impression

HBC Nantes under the leadership of Grégory Cojean has a clear structure and a very pronounced identity. Aymeric Minne leads the game from the middle, Thibaud Briet brings height and strength at left back, Romain Lagarde provides an additional option from the second line, and Valero Rivera remains the captain and a cool hand from the wing. The return of Nicolas Tournat has given Nantes another dimension on the line, especially in matches decided through contact and the battle for space around six metres.

Nantes is not a team that lives only from outside shooting. Its greatest advantage is often in changing rhythm: for one period it can play patiently, with a long attack through the pivot, and then in a few minutes speed up through the wings and semi-fast breaks. Kauldi Odriozola and Théo Avelange-Demouge provide width on the right side, while Ian Tarrafeta and Rok Ovniček offer additional variants in organising the game. If the PSG defence comes out too high on Minne, Nantes will look for the line; if it drops back, Briet and Lagarde can take shots over the block.

For the visitors, it is crucial not to lose control over technical mistakes. In the Accor Arena, one bad run of three attacks can quickly become a five-goal deficit, especially against PSG, which has wings and back players capable of punishing every lost ball. Nantes must be brave, but it must not be impatient.

• Aymeric Minne - playmaker and one of the main creators of the Nantes attack.
• Thibaud Briet - tall left back, important for shooting over the defence and play through contact.
• Valero Rivera - captain, wing finisher and player for calm endings.
• Nicolas Tournat - pivot who can open space for the back line and force suspensions.
• Ivan Pešić and Ignacio Biosca - the goalkeeper tandem that must give Nantes additional saves.

Head-to-head meetings show that an advantage melts quickly

These clubs know each other very well. In the most recently published head-to-head meetings, PSG and Nantes traded blows without too much hiding. PSG won 34:28 in March 2025, but Nantes celebrated 34:31 in December 2024. Before that, in April 2024, Nantes won 32:30, while PSG won 35:32 in October 2023. These are results that show this is not a duel in which one club routinely controls the other.

For a fan coming to the arena, it is important to understand one thing: in handball at this tempo, a lead of three or four goals is not safe. If one team enters a sequence of saves and quick goals, the result can turn around in five minutes. That is why the periods after time-outs will be especially interesting. The coaches will then try to change defensive height, deliberately attack the weaker side of the block or isolate the best back player in a one-on-one situation.

• 09.03.2025: Paris Saint-Germain Handball - HBC Nantes 34:28.
• 15.12.2024: HBC Nantes - Paris Saint-Germain Handball 34:31.
• 07.04.2024: HBC Nantes - Paris Saint-Germain Handball 32:30.
• 08.10.2023: Paris Saint-Germain Handball - HBC Nantes 35:32.

Tactical key: who will control the centre of the court

The most important zone will be the centre of the attack. PSG will, through Luc Steins, look for ball speed and situations in which the Nantes defence is only half a step late. When Steins gets into rhythm, Syprzak becomes a constant target on the line, and Prandi gets space to shoot. Nantes will have to decide how aggressively to step out on the back line. Too much space means shots from nine metres, but a defence that is too high opens space behind its back.

Nantes will look for its chance through smart use of the pivot and patience. Tournat and Gaber can wear down PSG's central block, and Briet and Lagarde threaten if the home side closes the line too much. For the visitors, the quality of the first pass after a defensive stop is especially important. If they have a clean transition after winning the ball, the wings can quickly punish PSG. If PSG manages to set up its defence, Nantes will have to play much more disciplined handball.

Goalkeepers could be the hidden decisive factor. In matches like this, it often does not take 18 saves to win; a few saves in a row at the right moment are enough. One stopped ball with the score level, especially after a seven-metre throw or a clear chance from the wing, can completely change the psychology of the finish.

Accor Arena: a big stage for handball

Accor Arena is located at 8 Boulevard de Bercy in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. The arena is known as a large multifunctional venue for concerts and sport, and for a handball layout its capacity is listed at around 15,609 seats. That is a significantly different environment from a classic handball hall: the stands are larger, the sound spreads differently, and players can feel that they are performing in a space that belongs to major events, not just a regular championship round.

For PSG, this is a return to Bercy for a special home match. The club previously organised a major handball gathering in the Accor Arena in honour of Nikola Karabatić, which attracted 14,840 spectators. That is why the home crowd will expect an evening of high intensity, not just a standard league rhythm. Seats in the stands disappear quickly when a title battle, an attractive opponent and an arena of this size come together.

• Address: Accor Arena, 8 Boulevard de Bercy, 75012 Paris.
• Nearest metro station: Bercy, lines 6 and 14.
• The arena is located in the Bercy district, near the Seine and Bercy Park.
• For handball, the capacity is listed at around 15,609 seats.
• It is advisable to arrive earlier because of entrance checks and crowds around the arena.

How to get there and what to expect around the arena

The simplest arrival for most visitors is by metro to Bercy station. Line 14 is a fast connection through Paris, and line 6 is useful for arriving from the west and southeast of the city. Those coming from other parts of Paris can combine the metro with the RER or train to the wider Gare de Lyon area, from where Bercy is relatively close. A car is possible, but for an event like this public transport makes more sense because heavier crowds are expected around the arena.

The Bercy district is a good choice for fans who want to arrive early. Nearby are Bercy Park, promenades along the Seine and several places for food and drink before the match. This is practical for visiting fans from Nantes, but also for the Parisian crowd that wants to avoid arriving at the last moment. At major events, entry into the arena can take longer, so it is better to leave enough time.

Organisers and sources for the event list an evening slot, and several match pages show the start at 20:30. Since event times can change depending on broadcasting and organisation, the smartest thing is to check the schedule in the information for the event itself shortly before departure. It is worth securing tickets in time and planning arrival so that you enter the arena before the warm-up.

Atmosphere: home pressure and visiting ambition

PSG will have the advantage of the home city, but Nantes is not a team that easily loses itself in the noise. On the contrary, its style often works well in big matches because it has experienced players who know how to slow the rhythm when the crowd is calling for chaos. Valero Rivera can calm a seven-metre throw at a key moment, Minne can extend an attack when the defence needs rest, and Tournat can force a foul that stops the home side's run.

On the other side, PSG has more players who can open the match on their own. Prandi can lift the arena with one shot over the block, Steins can break the defensive line with one breakthrough, and Syprzak can tie up two defenders and create an extra man for the wing. If the home side takes an early lead, the Accor Arena can become an additional burden for Nantes. If the visitors survive the first fifteen minutes without a larger deficit, the match could enter a much more tactical tone.

Ticket sales for this match are underway, and the interest is understandable: this is a duel of the top two teams, a meeting with strong internationals on both sides and a handball evening in one of the largest Parisian arenas. Fans can expect a match with plenty of rhythm, tough duels on the line and a finish in which every attack will carry the weight of the table.

Players to watch especially

For PSG, the first name to watch is Elohim Prandi. His outside shot changes the way the defence stands, and when the opponent steps out too high, space opens for cooperation with the pivot. Luc Steins is the second key because he dictates the tempo and forces the defence into constant movement. Kamil Syprzak is the third, but no less important: his presence on the line often does not immediately enter the statistics, but it opens space for almost everything else that PSG does in attack.

For Nantes, Aymeric Minne is the player through whom it is easiest to read the visitors' intention. If he has control of the ball and the rhythm, Nantes can play long and precisely. Thibaud Briet brings strength and height, but also energy that is important in defence. Nicolas Tournat will be under special pressure because PSG must physically close him down, while Valero Rivera remains the player for moments when calm finishing is required.

This will not be a match in which everything comes down to one scorer. Collective details will decide it: how much PSG will get from the quick restart, how long Nantes will last without lost balls, who will defend the pivot better and who will have more concentration when the result is breaking. For that reason, this encounter is especially interesting to neutral handball lovers as well, not only to fans of these two clubs.

Sources:

- LNH - schedule of the 28th round, information that Paris Saint-Germain Handball and HBC Nantes meet at the Accor Arena as part of the Liqui Moly StarLigue.

- PSG.fr - match preview, context of the return of PSG Handball to the Accor Arena and data on the Paris Saint-Germain Handball squad for the 2025/26 season.

- TNT Sports - current Liqui Moly StarLigue standings, points, records, goal difference and latest head-to-head results between PSG and Nantes.

- HBC Nantes - official list of players and coaching staff, including Grégory Cojean, Aymeric Minne, Valero Rivera, Nicolas Tournat and Thibaud Briet.

- Accor Arena and Paris je t'aime - data on the arena location, address, capacity and the role of the Accor Arena as a major Parisian sports and concert venue.

- Sofascore and Flashscore - PSG's form in recent matches, schedule and context of the PSG - Nantes encounter.