It is the least titled team, the least experienced and therefore inevitably the least expected this weekend at the Arènes de Metz, which hosts the Final 4 of the League Cup. Qualified alongside Paris, Nantes, and Montpellier, three teams that have gleaned nine of the last ten trophies in the competition, Chambéry Savoie Mont-Blanc Handball hopes to surprise. The task promises to be tough from the semi-final on Saturday against the three-time defending Parisians (4 p.m.). The other semi-final opposes Nantes to Montpellier (6.30 p.m.).
19 years later?
To hope to bring the trophy back to Savoy, 19 years after the only League Cup won by Chambéry in 2002, Chambéry will therefore have to beat the odds. Fifth in the Starligue championship at the truce, the Savoyards have shown this season that they are capable of dazzling, but Paris and its workforce of stars is still as dominant and impressive, undefeated on the national scene.
“A Final 4 is live or die, anything is possible”. Nikola Portner
“I played a lot of Final 4s” remembers the Swiss goalkeeper of Chambéry Nikola Portner, “sometimes it’s the little thumb who ends up in the final or even wins the title. Everything is played in a match, it’s live or die, for me everything is possible even if we are certainly not the favorites on paper, far from it“.
If Chambéry will attack the competition from its north face, the team led by Erick Mathé is also one of those who have held up best against Paris in recent seasons. “It is true that we have often embarrassed them“confirms the Savoy captain Pierre Paturel, “we are sometimes able to make absolutely fantastic defenses and not take goals for ten minutes, that’s what we have to do, no restraint to have on this match“.
For Alexandre tritta, this duel against Paris, even unbalanced on paper, will be played above all in the head, “it is certain that if we go there in the state of mind to take a jacket and be on vacation Saturday night, we will be on vacation Saturday night“adds the Chambérien back.
Live on France Bleu Pays de Savoie
For this shock against Paris, Chambéry will still be deprived of his right winger Benjamin Richert, who still suffers from an ankle. For its part, Paris will have to do without its captain Luka Karabatic, in delicacy with a thigh. The Savoyards will be able to count on the support of a few dozen supporters.
This semi-final of the League Cup, which will kick off at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Arènes de Metz, is to be experienced live and in full on France Bleu Pays de Savoie.
The program of Final 4
Saturday, December 18
- Paris-Chambéry / 4 p.m.
- Montpellier-Nantes / 6.30 p.m.