PSG – Kolstad, act II. Eight days after a trip to Norway, and a 36-31 defeat, PSG welcomes the club of its former star, Sander Sagosen, this Wednesday (8:45 p.m., Eurosport 2). Parisian between 2017 and 2020, the captain of the Norwegian selection has often returned to France since his departure. Returning to his hometown of Trondheim this summer, he returned to Coubertin in 2021, 2022 and last spring with Kiel.
A week ago, it was said that this Norwegian club Kolstad probably did not yet have what it took to be a candidate for direct qualification to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. To achieve this, remember that you must finish among the first two of the group which includes PSG, Kiel, the Polish European vice-champions of Kielce and the Danes of Aalborg.
Already three defeats in the Champions League this season
Unknown on the international scene, Kolstad, who is playing his first Champions League, seemed a little tender. Except that the Norwegians struck a big blow last week. After having already brought down Kiel in October, they offered themselves the scalp of the Parisians. A few hundred kilometers from the Arctic Circle, PSG sank in the last quarter of an hour to lose (36-31).
This defeat, which we did not expect, at least not to this extent, had a double effect: reviving the Norwegians and plunging Paris into doubt, which remains on two setbacks after the one conceded against Kiel a year ago. months (28-34) and occupies fourth place in a group stage which is only halfway done. This week, it’s time for the return phase.
Luka Karabatic and the Parisians are uncompromising in the league this season, a little less so in the Champions League. Icon Sport/Anthony Dibon
Invincible in the championship, PSG is playing on a tightrope in the Champions League. He has already lost three times since we must add to this bad series a defeat in Kielce at the start of the campaign (30-29). It’s a lot. Last season, to finish in first place in the group, Paris only lost two games. To finish in one of the two precious first places, you generally don’t have to lose more than three matches. Suffice it to say that a flawless return journey would be ideal for Paris. But this does not bode complicated: before mid-December, Luka Karabatic’s partners will have to play in Kiel then Aalborg.
Go through the round of 16, be careful of danger
Not qualifying directly for the quarter-finals would not be dramatic but would complicate the task. Paris will increase its program, knowing that the European champion has always finished among the first two in its group stage since the current format of the tournament.
If he finishes between third and sixth place in his group, he will have to go through a dangerous round of 16 in March against Magdeburg, Veszprem or even Montpellier. With the program awaiting internationals in 2024, sparing yourself two additional spring matches would be a good thing. From this perspective, we might as well say that the arrival of Kolstad can be compared to a first small final in the race for qualification.
