Saint-Raphaël Var Handball — Saran Loiret Handball: 22:26, Starligue

Saran Loiret Handball secured a 26-22 victory over Saint-Raphaël Var in the Starliga on Thursday evening. The result shifts the pressure onto the hosts, who now sit 13th on two points from three games. Saran Loiret move up to fifth place with four points, keeping their early-season momentum intact.

We had backed the home side at 80 per cent confidence. The match went another way, and the difference was in the second half. Saint-Raphaël Var had been competitive in their previous encounters, beating Dunkerque 26-25 and drawing with higher-placed opposition, but Saran Loiret ground out the win when it mattered.

The away side's recent form showed vulnerability too. They had lost to USAM Nîmes Gard 31-32 and dropped points against Ivry, yet they adjusted better in this fixture. By then, the hosts were scrambling to find answers. Saran Loiret are unbeaten in their last three league games and have the deeper squad to see out tight finishes.

Looking at the broader picture, both teams have not suffered a defeat yet. Saint-Raphaël Var's draws with Trebble and Limoges suggest resilience, while Saran Loiret's two wins and one draw indicate consistency. The gap between them remains small—two points separates fifth from thirteenth—but the away side's confidence was clearly higher.

And here's the thing: the result ends a run of poor form for Saran Loiret against top-half opposition. They had lost three of their last five matches before this encounter. The victory gives them breathing room in the table and puts them in a stronger position heading into the next round of fixtures.