17.04.2015, 07:05
PSG need to conquer the impregnable fortress of Veszprém

QUARTER-FINAL PREVIEW: The French outfit failed to win an away game against last 16 opponents and now they enter a lion's den, where Veszprém have remained undefeated the entire season.

PSG need to conquer the impregnable fortress of Veszprém

PSG’s fighting spirit resulted in a hard-fought draw in the first leg but Veszprém still start the second leg from pole position to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4. The combined team effort from the Hungarian outfit prevailed in most of game in Paris but with so many world class talents at their disposal PSG still pose a threat to Veszprém, where Cologne berths are at stake in the season's last Match of the Week live on ehfTV.

VELUX EHF Champions League, quarter-final, second leg:
MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) vs. Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Sunday, 19 April, 17:30 hours, Veszprém Arena, live on ehfTV

For most of the first leg game in Paris it seemed history would repeat itself and Veszprém would get away with a well deserved win but this time PSG gathered momentum from the visitors lacklustre last ten minutes and salvaged a point.

However, Veszprém still have the advantage, albeit not goal-wise, since PSG now have a task at hand that only one team could manage since the arrival of Carlos Ortega: they have to win in Veszprém. Or as Philippe Gardent put it, "PSG have one week to think about a way through that defence”.

The French team will also need someone to rise to the level of Mikkel Hansen, who constantly found the way past the excellent Roland Mikler as apart from the Danish sharp shooter only William Accambray seemed capable of doing so in the first leg.

As PSG have not won an away game the entire season against best of 16 opponents the draw is certainly an improvement but it is highly doubtful whether it would be enough in the Veszprém Arena, where the Hungarian champion remained unbeaten and to top it all Veszprém have only lost one game this season.

"The first leg showed our strength but made some weaknesses come to light, too. We need to work on those to make our fans happy, whose help we really need against such a great opponent," Roland Mikler told ehfCL.com.

TEXT: Bence Martha / br