After two years of absence due to the pandemic, the League Cup is back on Wednesday with the quarter-finals. Triple tenant of the title, PSG will travel this Wednesday (8 p.m.) to Toulouse, the 2018 finalist, in view of the Final Four which takes place at the Arènes de Metz on December 18 and 19. The best way to warm up before hosting Chartres in the league on Saturday.

The 2018 remake

The two teams met in this same competition a little over three years ago. It was in March 2018 and in the final, already, in the Arènes de Metz. After easily getting rid of Dunkirk in the semi-finals (33-26), the Parisians, while Zvonimir Serdarušić received the 2nd of their trophy by easily dominating (40-30) the players of Philippe Gardent, their former coach. Nikola Karabatic had been one of the great architects of this success scoring eight times out of his nine attempts.

Toulouse has assets

Currently eleventh in Liqui Moly Starligue, the Fénix de Toulouse is an opponent a priori within the reach of the current undefeated leader. The two teams have already crossed paths during the second day at Coubertin and PSG did not do any detail (43-28), with an effective Elohim Prandi (8 goals). The fifteen goal gap should not forget, however, that Toulouse have assets, starting with Jeff Lettens and Nemanja Ilić. The Belgian international goalkeeper is indeed the second best goalkeeper in the championship (80 saves, 32%). The Serbian is the current 8th top scorer (45 goals), behind Vanja, his brother who plays … in Chartres (3rd with 52 goals).

The inevitable reunion

Beyond the confrontations, this meeting also puts in opposition boys who knew the two clubs. Coming from the Parisian training center, Edouard Kempf (23) has been very consistent since the start of the season. On the Parisian side, Luc Steins and Sadou Ntanzi are back at the Palais des Sports André-Brouat. The first played there for a year and a half before joining the capital a year ago following the serious injury of Nikola Karabatic. What had learned the loan of the second in stride, then his return.

The other quarter-finals: This Wednesday evening (8 p.m.): Chambéry-Aix, Nantes-Créteil, Nîmes-Montpellier.