14.09.2012, 12:10
Montpellier break records in French League

VELUX EHF Champions League participant is warming up before the new season

Montpellier break records in French League

Montpellier set a new French League record for the number of goals scored in a single match, when the VELUX EHF Champions League participant beat Billère 50-24 on Thursday.

A newcomer in the league, Billère only conceded an average of 24 goals in the French second division last season. But Montpellier were in devastating form and showed no mercy.

With a ten-goal lead at half time (22-12), the former French champions showed no signs of letting up and scored 28 goals in the second half - nearly a goal per minute!

Slovenian winger Dragan Gajić, the new captain of the team, led by example with 12 goals, converting several penalty shots and giving Billère goalkeeper Nemanja Marjanović little chance.

Other major scorers were the Tunisian Issam Tej with nine, and Luka Karabatic (Nikola's brother) with seven.

Head coach Patrice Canayer told France's Canal+ TV channel: "We played a very interesting game, we were really up for it and had a well-organised defence. But scoring 50 goals is just a freak result, and we certainly didn't come here intending to punish Billère. You can't judge a team on just one game. Billère didn't play well in this game, but they will certainly give some other teams a hard match in the future."

The massive victory threw down the gauntlet to their rivals for this season’s French League crown, especially their arch rivals Paris, who they intend to beat in retaining the title.

Montpellier will play in Group A of the VELUX EHF Champions League, where they face Chekhovskie Medvedi, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Reale Ademar León, RK Partizan and HSV Hamburg.

TEXT: Kevin Domas