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Montpellier are destroying the opponents, and Toulouse will have to do without their three first choice back court players

Besides Fernandez and Andelkovic, the visiting team lost their first choice right back Montor as well. Even so, they managed to beat Nantes 31-27 with 25 saves by the goalkeepers. It's not logical to expect something like that to happen against Montpellier's offense

Ever since the defeat against Cesson 34-32 home, Montpellier are doing brilliantly and beating every opponent they meet: Sélestat 41:24, Chambery 40:30, Kaustik 38:26...just to name a few. The great battle for the second position that secures a place in the Champions League against Dunkerque was a 25-25 draw.

Patrice Cabayer's team beat Tremblay away 35-27 last week, and then traveled to Russia to meet the currently leading team of the Russian championship - Kaustik. They virtually already got in the EHF Cup group stage, and only have to finish the job in the second leg game. With that in mind, this game is far more important - they need to keep up with the leading teams in the league, and they can't afford to drop points, especially home. 

- The fact we're not playing Champions League gave us more time to practice, and the objective in the EHF Cup is the title. Kaustik was easy, but we'll be meeting better opponents in the group. We have potential, but we're not using it. New signings take time, losing in the Champions League was a disappointment, but everyone is getting where they should be now.

This is what Montpellier's captain said about their opponent today:

- Some good players joined their team, they are very compact despite missing a few players. They have a great Spaniard on the goal, wings Porte and Ilić are bursting with confidence, and we know Ilić from last year in Belgrade. They are struggling with injuries, but feeling confident - they even managed to beat Nantes in that state. We'll be careful, even home. We know what happened against Cesson. With the ambitions we have, that's not acceptable. We no longer have the right to make mistakes. We have to win the points.

They have two more championship games till the end of the year - an away game against St. Raphael, who beat Chambery last night, and a home game against Nimes.

Coach Canayer can't count on Omeyer and line man Tejo. 

- We know Toulouse are two points short, they are our direct rival for positions 2 and 3. Their defense is good, but keep in mind, we are playing home - Gajic added.

The entire France was talking about Fernandez going to Qatar, which was slightly against the rules. He got back injured, Anđelkovic is out for three months, and they lost right back Montor, who will for sure not play in 2013. Everyone claimed Toulouse have no value without them, but they destroyed Nantes 31-27. Perez and Pardin recorded 25 saves in that game.

Chelle played the right back position (3/4), Gilbert (4/7) middle back, and Osmajic (2/2) and Calvel (4/9) the left back position.

Playing with that line up, with such high level of motivation home against Nantes is very different from playing the game tonight. It would be surprising if they manage to put up a fight at all.

This handicap would be realistically set if Toulouse were coming with a full roster, but they're not. They will be missing three perimeter players, meaning that the burden of responsibility will have to be carried by Calvel, Chelle, Gilbert, Morency and Osmajic. Those five can be reserve players in Montpellier, at best. Such an outer line will definitely struggle vs the Montpellier defense, and that means a lot of turnovers and counterattacks. Even handicapped like this Toulouse beat Nantes 31-27 in the last round gamebut with 25 saves by their goalkeepers, which is a once in a season blessing, not a twice a week occurrence. Montpellier are very serious and motivated, judging from what captain Guigou said. They were very distressed by the home loss to Cesson and have been playing at a higher level since. I doubt they will have any trouble today...