The HBC begins the return phase of its Champions League group this Thursday evening, traveling to the title holders and favorites of the competition: FC Barcelona. During the first leg which took place three weeks ago in a packed H Arena, the Nantes residents managed to create the feat by holding the Catalans in check (31-31). For the HBC handball players and their coach, the task promises to be more difficult on Barcelona soil. Approach the match “with humility” is the priority for the workforce.
A match “different from the others”
For the moment, FC Barcelona remains undefeated since the start of the season. The Nantes residents, 2nd in the standings in their group behind the Catalans, had already made the same trip two years ago. After holding out against Barça for a long time, the H finally lost the match. But today, “It’s a different context” supports Grégory Cojean, the Nantes coach, before adding, “Today, it has nothing to do with what we experienced two years ago. We still have the experience of having traveled there, of knowing the context, the place, the room and the atmosphere”.
Hugo Deschamps
With a gain in confidence after the draw snatched in the first leg on October 31, the H still faces a European champion, “It’s a top team with great players. I think they will want to react to the first leg, given that we put them in difficulty They will want to regain the ascendancy” analyzes the coach. Approaching the match with complete humility is Grégory Cojean’s credo before kick-off, “The players will have to keep the same intensity. We must not make a mistake, analyze the team carefully. If we play with the ambition and the lucidity of knowing who we are, we can annoy them. But if we think we are there ‘equal from Barcelona to Barcelona, we can take a spanking’.
“Why not have a shot there”
During the first leg, the H Arena was sold out. In Barcelona, there will be fewer Nantes supporters speaking out. Around thirty members of the Ultr’H Nantes supporters association have planned to make the trip, “It’s certain that there will be fewer people, it’s still an away match, it’s still difficult to win. They’re going to want to make us miserable.” concedes Julien Bos, the right back of H. For the rest of the competition, the people of Nantes will continue with another trip to Zagreb in Croatia, “We’re used to playing in conditions where everyone is against us. Sometimes, it’s even better for us because we soak up the atmosphere. And when we score, we’re even more angry “. explains the player. The draw obtained at home during the first leg allows us to say that the H can compete with Barça according to Julien Bos, before concluding, “Why not have a shot there.”
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