MOTW: PSG defeat Flensburg through solid second half

Paris SG held both points in France as they defeat Flensburg 27:22 in the Match of the Week, while Danish champions Bjerringbro led all the way to win 33:24 against Wisla Plock.

• The win was PSG´s third in five Champions League matches against Flensburg

• PSG stay two points behind group leaders FC Barcelona Lassa

• Flensburg left wing and playmaker Kentin Mahe returned to the city where he was born

• First VELUX EHF Champions League match in history between the two teams

• Former Champions League winner Michael V. Knudsen returned from injury to score seven goals

• The win was Bjerringbro-Silkeborg's second in the group phase, while Plock are still waiting for their first

GROUP A
MOTW: Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 27:22 (13:11)

Paris Saint-Germain did not need more than one half to decide the Match Of the Week. After dominating most of the first half, the home team removed the last doubt soon after the break.

Flensburg opened by getting up 1:0 and 2:1, but PSG soon took the initiative though it only resulted in one-goal leads.

The visitors tried to take back the initiative by playing seven against six in the attack, but this tactic fired back a couple of times in the form of goals in an empty Flensburg net, prompting coach Ljubomir Vranjes to abandon the system again.

PSG got their biggest lead in the first half at 10:7 but the home team failed to break away this time. Flensburg even got back at 10:10 before Paris came with the better finish to the first half.

Early decision in the second half

PSG decided the match within the first quarter of an hour of the second half.

Their two-goal lead at half-time was soon doubled to four goals at 15:11 and later increased to seven at 21:14 and 22:15.

Flensbrg got as close as 24:21 but a series of fine saves by Gorazd Skof, who replaced Thierry Omeyer in the Paris goal, removed the last bit of doubt.

In the closing minutes PSG even increased their lead to five again.

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 33:24 (18:14)

Orlen Wisla Plock experienced some kind of an anti-climax after their draw against Telekom Veszprém last weekend, as they ran into a nine-goal defeat in Denmark on Sunday (16 October) afternoon.

Coach commits

Before the match, Bjerringbro-Silkeborg extended their contract with Head Coach Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen until the summer of 2019, and he paid the club back for the confidence shown in him by leading the Danish champions to one of their most impressive performances in the elite club competition.

After an equal start, Bjerringbro-Silkeborg went ahead by three goals at 7:4, mainly thanks to a strong defence and an effective counter-attack phase.

In their established attack, left back Nikolaj Markussen and line player Michael V. Knudsen were the dominating figures, scoring seven goals each in the match.

5-1 defence with no effect

Wisla Plock tried to combat the Danish attack with a 5-1 defence several times in the match, but with little effect.

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg continued to have the initiative, and before the break, they managed to increase the lead to four and, even five, before taking a four goal lead with them to the dressing room.

Increase after the break

In the second half, ongoing fine performances from Markussen and Knudsen were accompanied by a stellar performance by Sebastian Frandsen in goal and by right wing Johan Hansen in the attack.

The home team increased their lead more or less steadily through the second half, leading by 10 at 32:22 and finishing with a nine goal win.

Post-match statements:

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Head Coach Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen said:
“We played at a very high level and the return of Michael Knudsen was important for our game today.

“We know that Wisla Plock has a tremendous home court, where they usually get a lot of points. The played a great match against Veszprem in the last round and I still think Plock will get more points on the home court, than we maybe can.
“It will be tough for us to get through and it may be decided in our game in Plock. We will see. It is a long tournament.

“We have only played four games and there are still 10 to come. I know Plock will be able to beat many of the other opponents in the next games.

“The four points we have now is more than we had expected, so we are just happy now.”

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg centre back Sebastian Skube said:
“Michael Knudsen made the difference today. He was amazing. It was a nice experience to play with him. He is the best line player I have played with in my career.

“We missed him in the first games of the season and it was very good to have him back.”

Orlen Wisla Plock Head Coach Piotr Przybecki said:
“Bjerringbro-Silkeborg played much better than our team today. We conceded 18 goals in the first half, and I think that is too much, but it also due to a great level from Bjerringbro-Silkeborg.

“We made eight or nine easy mistakes and throughout the whole game, we had problems with Michael Knudsen. What we did today was not what we live for and what we practice for, but this group is still open.

“Everybody knows that it is a very tough group and we have to fight in all of our games. We want to move higher up in the group ranking but we have a new team with some younger players and I know that we will play better and move higher up.”

Orlen Wisla Plock left wing Lovro Mihic said:
“We have a lot of games in front of us and we have to give our best and work hard in training and try to improve in both defence and attack.”