US Créteil edged past Massy Essonne 35:33 in the opening round of the ProLigue on Thursday evening. The home side secured all three points at a tightly contested fixture where the margin proved decisive. Massy, who had drawn their previous encounter with Créteil back in August, found themselves on the wrong end of the result this time around.
And here's the thing — the match had all the hallmarks of something closer than the scoreline suggests. Créteil came into the game with momentum, having won their last outing against Besançon 32:28. Massy's form was less convincing, with a narrow loss to Saint just days before this clash. The visitors came for a cross he never reached in terms of confidence, but Créteil's recent run told.
To be fair, Massy held their own for large stretches and earned their point through resilience rather than capitulation. They had beaten Créteil 34:32 in August, so this result flipped the script. By then, the home side had accumulated five wins from five matches across all competitions, while Massy's away record offered little cause for optimism.
The prediction was spot on — Créteil were always going to take maximum points, and the 82 per cent confidence level reflected their current standing. The hosts simply outlasted their visitors in a game where both sides traded blows without either pulling clear. Money has come for the hosts in the sense that their form has been consistent enough to justify backing them.
Créteil now sit third on two points from one game, while Massy remain eleventh after collecting a single point. The gap between them is small, but the trajectory of both teams points in different directions. Créteil cannot afford another slip if they want to maintain their push towards the top of the table.