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Abalo: Nantes are good for us, we know they can defeat us

When they played here in the first part of the season, PSG suffered a heavy defeat (37-31)

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When the word came out that these two French clubs will face each other for the quarter-final, everyone remembered December and 37-31. For Nantes. In Nantes. Probably the final confirmation of the arrival of a new player on the scene, who have, by signing Kiro Lazarov for the next season, shown that they have huge ambitions and deep pockets. 

- I cannot imagine them playing at the same level again, that would be dramatic for them. PSG are made to win the Champions League, that is the main goal. We need to try and repeat the same performance, which means the balance of power is more even, because Paris will play much better - said coach Thierry Anti, who cannot count only on pivot Buric.

After that big win, they won all of their games. They are keeping up in the championship, they are only one point behind Paris, and with the way things are, the decision will be made in their head-to-head game. In the last 8 games in different competitions, they have never scored under 30 goals, and they thrashed Legrono by 31 and 37 in the previous round. 

- We have two games ahead of us and we have to make them doubt as long as possible. The mental aspect will be important, but I repeat, the Champions League is icing on the cake for us. We never imagined ourselves in Koln. 

In that championship game, Gurbindo had 6/6, Nyokas 7/15, Claire 7/9, wings Klein and Balaguer added 11 goals. They will face stronger defense today, and PSG's latest defensive performances have nothing to do with the first part of the season, not to mention last season. 

- Nantes are filled with confidence, but we are coming in full speed as well - said Narcisse, and they decided their last four games by halftime: Dunkerque 20-12, Kiel 22-10, Chambery 19-8, Ivry 20-10. 

These are unreal numbers for this level, and there is no point talking about motivation today. 

- It is good that we are facing Nantes. We know that they can defeat us, they have done it recently, and that will make us be 100% focused - said Luc Abalo. 

In away games this season, PSG have won at Flensburg, Veszprem, lost one in Kiel and suffered their only convincing defeat at Barcelona. These are all clubs currently above Nantes, and the impression is that Karabatic and his teammates will be crucial in this series, and then maybe Gurbindo and the team put together at Nantes. 

All of their important players played in the last game against Ivry, all three left-handed players, both Karabatic's, veterans Abalo and Narcisse, so PSG should run out with their best roster.