Valence upset Istres in ProLigue opener
Istres hosted Valence in the ProLigue on Thursday evening, and the visitors ran out 33-29 winners. We had backed the home side with 95% confidence, but the match took a different turn entirely. And here's the thing about cup football — or handball, as it happens — nothing is guaranteed until the final whistle.
Valence came from somewhere and took control. The scoreboard tells us everything: 33 goals against 29, with the difference decided in the second half. They didn't come for a cross they never reached; they went for the jugular and punished Istres when it mattered.
Both sides entered the fixture on 0 points after drawing their opening matches. Istres had shared points with Dijon, while Valence had gone close against Cherbourg, losing 35-36. By then, the table was wide open, and Valence proved they could take advantage.
The result moves Valence into sole possession of the top spot, while Istres remain in 12th. The gap is still zero points — there's nothing in it yet — but confidence matters in these early stages. Valence cannot afford another slip if they want to build momentum.
Istres will want to forget the away defeat in Cherbourg that preceded this campaign. Valence, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions, something worth noting as the season proper begins.