Nantes surprised at home by the Slovenians of Celje in the Champions League

Nantes was surprised at home in the last moments by the Slovenians of Celje, beaten 32-31 Thursday during the 11th day of the Handball Champions League. With this third consecutive loss in the competition, Nantes remain in third place on the difference of points but see Kiel, fourth, return to their height after the success of the Germans against the Poles of Kielce (32-29).

The “H” suffered throughout the game against Slovenians seventh in group B but came without complex. Faced with an opponent they had largely dominated in the first leg (35-24), the Nantes residents encountered great offensive difficulties, like this terrible 1/6 with 7-meter throws.

Led at the break (16-14), Grégory Cojean’s players returned in the second period with better intentions and a more efficient quick game to come back in front from the 36th (20-19), under the impetus of Aymeric Minne (eight goals). But the good performance of Slovenian goalkeeper Gal Gabersek, who repelled a third of Nantes’ attempts (14/42), allowed his team to regain the advantage before the last breathless minutes.

The score remained for five minutes at 30-30, before a last ball badly negotiated by the Nantes, which offered the ultimate possession to Celje. His center half Aleks Vlah arose to send the ball into the net of the “H”, which suffered its fifth defeat of the season. During the next day, Nantes will move to the Norwegians of Elverum, last of the chicken.