Handball. Montpellier finishes 2nd in the championship and wins its ticket to the Champions League

It was a decisive match for the MHB. By winning at home with a small goal (28-27), Patrice Canayer’s players finished in second place in the French championship and qualified for the Champions League.

Winner of Chambéry at home 28-27, Montpellier finished in second place in the French Handball Championship, this Tuesday, June 6, 2023 during the 30th and last day.

After the tenth coronation of Paris SG on Friday, Montpellier and Nantes competed at a distance for the place of dolphin, synonymous with qualification for the Champions League. The European confederation (EHF) traditionally offers an invitation to the second in the French Championship, which has always had at least two representatives in C1 since the 2002-2003 season.

Nantes won, at the relegated Sélestat (31-21), but had to hope for a misstep from Montpellier. Jostled in the first period by Chambéry, 4th in the championship, the MHB took the lead just before the break thanks in particular to Lucas Pellas and Julien Bos and to the stops of Rémi Desbonnet (13-11).

At the start of the second period, Patrice Canayer’s players increased their lead to four goals. But the Savoyards again posed problems for the Héraultais to recover to 22-22 after a superb goal from Nikoloz Kalandadze.

In numerical superiority, Montpellier went back to +3 (26-23). Neck and neck until the end, the MHB secured its place in C1 thanks to a final goal from Pellas (28-27), which allowed it to finish two points ahead of Nantes (3rd).

Enough to erase Montpellier’s catastrophic Final Four in the European League in Flensburg (Germany) on May 27 and 28.

The season is not over however for Montpellier and Nantes who will meet on Saturday in the final of the Coupe de France.

Written with AFP.