For this first day of National 1 elite, after 10 months of interruption, the duels raged. After the clash between Annecy and the Elite Val d’Oise, coaches Raphaël Planchet and Safwann Khoudar come back for Handnews on their resumption of competition.

10 months and 23 days. This is the time during which the Nationale 1 remained asleep, subject to the vagaries of the health situation due to its semi-professional status. But the starting signal was a well-remembered weekend, and the 12 elite teams were just waiting for that to put the cover back on. With 4 promoted authors for most of the beautiful duels, regulars of the competition and the new Bordeaux project in Bruges-Lormont, the season promises some beautiful duels, and this first day proudly demonstrated it.

High-level duel between Annecy and the Elite Val d’Oise

Like many meetings this season, the duel between Annecy CSAV and Elite Val d’Oise promised to be a close match between two great teams. And for the return of spectators to the Glaisins gymnasium, the two teams did not cheat and fought a tough battle.

Tom Vinatier, Annecy CSAV (credits: Sébastien TORCHIO, Annecy CSAV Handball)

“I have the feeling that I played a very good N1 match in this elite group.”From this first day, the Île-de-France tactician Safwann Khoudar already looks back on a successful performance between two teams who were about to start their championship. However, the two formations had absentees, with the framework Simon mayoyo, on the left rear post of the CSAV, and on the right rear Lahcen Bellimam and the pivot Yasser Boukheda on the visitors side. “We learned when we arrived that there was a licensing problem with our left-back, laments the EVO coach. He must have followed the match from the stands.“But despite this, the copy on the pitch did not lack in quality.

A victory in the last seconds

Throughout the match, the teams are neck and neck, and the gap rarely exceeds 3 goals. “In the first half, we didn’t know how to take Simon Lavialle that pierces us through, analyze Raphael Planchet, because of the premises. We reacted well to him in the second act, but it led us to uncover ourselves a little to the right and leave spaces to Omar Ben Ali.“Because indeed, the two Ile-de-France residents were real poisons for the defense of Haute-Savoie: the former Angevin finished 7/9 while the right winger Benali scored 6 times:”It is notably he who allows the Elite to return at the end, returns Planchet. Him and Fabien Segarel who hurt us by throwing balloons out of the defensive system. With Lavialle, these three players we really put in difficulty.”On the opposing side, Safwann Khoudar also shares a real respect for his first opponent. “I think they have a very good starting 7. Tonight their left-back made a very good performance, the relationship between Gaillard and Portet (pivot) worked really well too, and Vinatier was also punchy as their goalie made the important saves. We see that they know each other, that they were really ready to play this match there and, beyond the individualities, there was a real collective in Annecy, they had a lot of desire and threw themselves on each ball. Both teams wanted, this time it turned in their favor but we hope that in the return it will work in our direction.“

Thomas Georgen, Annecy CSAV (credits: Sébastien TORCHIO, Annecy CSAV Handball)

Because indeed, everything could have changed in the last moments. While the premises seemed for the first time in the match to make the break (27-24, 54 ′), the Elite Val d’Oise inflicts a 3-0 to pick up. And in the last moments, it’s the recruit Thomas Georgen (6/9) who will take the role of boss and scorer twice in the last minute, including the winning goal in the final seconds (30-29, 60 ′). “It’s super positive because he is discovering this level of play, and with Mayoyo’s injury he is plunged into the deep end but he showed immediately that he could respond present and that he was able to be decisive, his trainer is satisfied. Collectively, I think we were able to keep a lot of composure at the end of the game, and we delivered a very good defensive performance. We were 25 goals conceded in the 55th, and we defensively look great.“

A great reunion with the public

And this great allure did not escape the public, who came in large numbers for the return to Les Glaisins. “It was really nice to find the audience like that, with this scenario which added euphoria at the end., says Planchet. I don’t know if it weighed on the heads of the players but it feels great. There were even supporters of the Elite Val d’Oise which has a lot of noise, it was really a great atmosphere.“His counterpart can only be satisfied with this beautiful evening under the sign of the return of handball. “We had 3 supporters who made the trip and have a lot of atmosphere, thanks the Ile-de-France tactician. The players were able to be warmly supported throughout the match, under the drums, and without them we might not have been so attached to this Annecy team.“

Elite Supporters Val d’Oise (credits: Sébastien TORCHIO, Annecy CSAV Handball)

Now, the tacticians are planning on the second day, and a trip to Saintes for the CSAV. “They have very experienced players on the back base who know how to handle placed attacks, and big guys in defense., anticipates the Haut-Savoyard. On our side, we will have 9-10 hours of bus with an early departure on Saturday morning and we will have to manage fatigue. We will therefore always go there with the same approach: humility and work.”Another situation opposite, with the Elite Val d’Oise which will make its debut in front of its public, with the reception of the ASPTT Mulhouse-Rixheim. “We can not wait to find our audience, I think that even if we told them that the game was tomorrow, the players would go 110% to recover the three points, observes the coach. On some details to be corrected on will work this week, but it will be our first at home and we are all eager to show the face of the team, and the momentum that we are building this season.“

Bruges / Lormont overthrown in the second act

In the other matches, Bruges-Lormont very early meeting on the side of Mulhouse, but failed to win. Driven by the goals of the recruits Antoine Gutfreund (5/8) and Xavier Moreau (9/13), the protégés of Philippe Gardent quickly build a substantial lead (10-15, 21 ′). But that was without counting the 5-0 suffered before the break (15-15, 30 ′). The Alsatian attack will thus be released while Loic Gschwind gets in the way of the Aquitaine shooters. The locals will better hold the second act and are in the lead without ever being completely sheltered. The gong retained on a victory of a length, in a meeting where the men of Mehdi Ighirri could count on their professional players Jordan Francois-Marie and Benoît Deghaud, authors of 7 but each (30-29, 60 ′).

Benoît Deghaud, Mulhouse-Rixheim (credits: Gwenaëlle MARTER)

Conversely, on the side of Frontignan, there was not so much suspense facing the promoted Saintes. The people of Hérault, in diesel mode, put a serious boost before the break. With a Kévin Mesnard always at the rendezvous in his cage, a Antoine Laurens (6/7) impeccable inside and a precious Guillaume Margnoux at 7m, the locals broadcast the Saintais from a distance from half-time (20-12, 30 ′). Yannick Verdier’s men will not be able to significantly reduce the gap in the second half, despite the fine performance of rear Axel Rosier (6/8) and Nemanja Grujicic (9/11). The final score is final (36-29, 60 ′), Frontignan holds its bell and the US Saintes can turn to the reception of Annecy which promises to be important for this start of the season.

Poitiers clashes, solid Paris against the courage of Pau

It was clearly not announced. In Nationale 2 there are two seasons, the Griffons of Poitiers hit hard for their elite group debut. Opposed to Dreux-Vernouillet, a “old woman“Of these N1 games, Christian Latulippe’s men left nothing to chance with a 9-goal lead from the break (17-8, 30 ′) and did not let go of their grip to finish at +15 (36-21, 60 ′). Despite a good performance by the porter Nicolas gricourt (9 stops at 36%), the beginners start their season in the worst possible way before receiving Frontignan next week. Among the locals, the danger will have been spread (only one outfield player has not scored), and it will be necessary to confirm this great performance at the impregnable fortress of Pau Nousty next week.

Grand Poitiers Handball 86 (credits: Sébastien Grégoire Photographer)

Pau Nousty, precisely, did not manage to gain the upper hand over the reserve of Paris Saint Germain. The Parisians, cut off from their two best scorers in the offseason (Louis Despreaux in Cesson, Andry Goujon-Bellevue in Cherbourg), were able to find the resources and attack the match in the best possible way (12-6, 16 ′). The Palois do not let themselves be defeated for all that and, carried by a Alexandre thiel (10/10) on fire for his return to the courts, take the lead in the second period (20-21, 41 ′). But opposite, the young international Baptiste Argile (8/8, including 2 pen.) Keeps watch and a 4-0 by the players of the capital ensures the victory (31-29, 60 ′).

Next week, the Parisians are moving to the side of Gonfreville, which got off to a good start outside on the Cournon d’Auvergne. Despite a good start to the match (8-4, 8 ′), the men of Lukas Buchta did not manage to keep up with the experience of the Normans. Carried by their executives, with an impeccable Baptiste Mir (11/11 including 6 pen.) And a Florian Tike still solid in his cage (10 saves), Ibrahima Diallo’s proteges lead to 4 lengths at the break ( 11-15, 30 ′), before flying into the money time (23-30, 60 ′). Next week, the Cournonnais will have a lot to do, with a trip to Bruges-Lormont.

Find all the results and rankings of the N1 elite on the dedicated section!

Antoine Piollat