Saint-Nazaire – MHSC VB: Montpellier players take on the champion and climb onto the podium

Nicolas Le Goff and Montpellier won in Saint-Nazaire. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Montpellier delivered a real recital in Saint-Nazaire this Saturday, November 7 (0-3) and regained the momentum it had lost for a month.

A little over two months after Montpellier's victory (3-2) over Saint-Nazaire in the Champions Trophy, the two finalists met again Saturday evening at Coubertin in a completely different context.

“It was in September, water has flowed under the bridge”, noted coach Loïc Le Marrec, who has been faced with other problems for several weeks: “At the end of October, we lost a match in Narbonne that we seemed to have mastered, that was the negative trigger, we then had a few poor performances. Since then, at the end of sets, we tend to tense up, but we are working on it to rekindle a dynamic”.

All the results and the general

The people of Saint-Nazaire had every interest in taking advantage of this state of excitement and pushing where it hurts in order to stay attached to the right wagon. But to do that, they would have had to not stay on the platform when the train left! Quickly distanced (1-7), Lourenço Martins' partners tried to hang on as best they could but were unable to match the match.

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Inspired Corre

The Occitans thus dispatched the first act (14-25 in 23'), and started the second with the same intensity under the leadership of a rather well-inspired Raphaël Corre. Moreover, in the Hérault camp, everyone recited their score wonderfully and excelled in their register, leaving no chance to their host who was gradually lowering their head.

10-15, 13-22, the Maritimes could only note the level that currently separates them from a top-of-the-table team. Seeming resigned from the first points of the third set (5-10), despite the changes attempted by Fulvio Bertini, the Saint-Nazaire VBA ended up sinking completely and drinking the cup to the dregs. Satisfied with the performance of his protégés, Loic Le Marrec could breathe: “Beyond the score, I am particularly satisfied with the content, we played a solid match. We did not have the weak moments that we have experienced recently. We were strong technically, but also mentally.” His men will have the opportunity to double the lead on Tuesday against Poitiers.