PSG and RK Zagreb met in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with the hosts edging out a 34:30 victory in a match that demanded concentration from both sides. The result keeps the French club second in the table with three points from two games, while Zagreb remain third on two points after a win and a draw so far this season.
And here's the thing — what you notice watching this level of handball is how tightly contested the opening exchanges were. Zagreb came in with recent form that suggested they would not be pushed around, and they matched PSG goal for goal for large stretches. The hosts had to respond, and they did, finding a rhythm in the final quarter that Zagreb could not quite match.
To be fair, the prediction we made before kickoff — a home win — came through, and it was not a surprise given the context. PSG have been on a good run in these competitions, and Zagreb's recent results showed they could compete, but the home advantage and the quality of their attack proved decisive. We gave confidence at 77 per cent, and the match played out along those lines.
By then the standings told their own story. PSG sit second, one point ahead of Zagreb, and this victory extends their momentum after victories over Sesson-Rennes and Chambéry Savoie in recent weeks. The Croatian side, meanwhile, showed resilience with draws against Trimo Trebnje and Ohrid, but could not sustain that against a PSG side that turned up the pressure when it mattered.
The final margin of five goals reflects a match that could have gone either way, and it leaves PSG with a slight edge in the group. Zagreb will make life awkward for anyone they face, but tonight the hosts saw it out.
