Nîmes and Aix beaten, Nantes forced to draw, Toulouse winner
Aurélie SACCHELLI, Media365, published on Tuesday February 22, 2022 at 11:29 p.m.
Nîmes lost to AEK Athens on the 8th day of the European League but remains leader of its group, while Aix, beaten at home by Magdebourg, remains dead last. In the evening, Nantes drew in Germany while Toulouse won in Switzerland.
First in group D and already qualified for the round of 16 of the European League, Nîmes moved to AEK Athens with the aim of winning to finish as high as possible and thus face an opponent a priori weaker in eighth. It missed. The Gardois lost 34-30 in Greece, but that did not prevent them from remaining leaders, two days from the end. USAM, led 5-1 then 8-3 and 13-7 at the start of the match, had nevertheless reacted magnificently with a 7-0 to lead 15-16 at halftime. But in the second period, the Greeks took control at 18-17 and were then no longer behind the game. Despite Mohamed Hisham Sanad’s 7 goals, Nîmes must therefore bow before receiving the Swiss from Kadetten (3rd) next week.
Nîmes markers: Hisham Sanad (7), Vincent (6), Minel (5), Rebichon (4), Gibernon (4), Poyet (1), Guigou (1), Salou (1), Yasuhira (1)
Aix at the end of the abyss
So brilliant in Liqui Moly Starligue, with a third place behind PSG and Nantes, Aix is disappointing in the European League. PAUC is almost eliminated, after suffering its seventh defeat in eight games, the fourth in a row, on the ground of the leader of group C, Magdeburg (28-39). There was no photo in that match, where the Germans won the first half 20-13 and the second 19-15. The Aixois, led by the duo Nicolas Claire – Mike Brasseleur, authors of 5 goals each, did not exist during this meeting and they will need a miracle to join the eighth.
Aix markers: Claire (5), Brasseleur (5), Ong (4), Kristjansson (3), Konan (3), Cabanes (2), Loesch (2), Tarrafeta Serrano (2), Lagarde (1), Pecina Tome (1 )
Nantes bring back a draw from Germany
Like Nîmes, Nantes have already qualified for the round of 16, but hope to finish higher than their current third place. This Tuesday, the H failed to win against the Germans of Lemgo, settling for a 37-37 draw. Nantes were leading 17-20 at half-time after being in front almost all the time, but in the second half Lemgo started with a 3-0 to equalise. Nantes then escaped to lead 30-34, but Elisson scored five goals (out of 15 in total) and the Germans equalized at 35-35. It was this same Elisson who scored the but of the draw 55 seconds from the end. Valero Rivera’s 11 goals were not enough for Nantes to win, but the H can still finish top of Group B.
Nantes markers: Rivera Folch (11), Minne (7), Briet (4), Pechmalbec (4), Ovnicek (3), Persson (3), Monar (2), Balaguer Romeu (2), Portela (1)
Toulouse goes on
Toulouse also qualified for the eighth and signed its fourth victory in a row, against Winterthur, already eliminated. Third in Group A, Fenix prevailed 27-30 in Switzerland. The Toulousains however suffered in the first half, and were led 17-15 when they returned to the locker room. But thanks in particular to a great Nemanja Ilic (8 goals), they came back in second and took control from 22-23 to never let them go. The two teams will meet in Haute-Garonne next week.
Toulouse markers: Ilic (8), Feuchtmann Perez (6), Abdi (5), Balenciaga Azcue (4), Petersson (3), Chelle (1), Gilbert (1), Borzas (1), Vieira (1)