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This round's derby will be played in Paris

Paris are the current runner-up and Montpelier announced an attack on the top. This is why this game is realistically the most important in the first round

Paris are back in the French volleyball elite and have to stay there. It'srn always a little easier to attack than defend, especially in a league as even as Ligue A, but the Parisians don't lack optimism. they've signed quality players and will be playing in the Campions League, and manager Rougeyron openly admits they want to win at least one trophy this season. It is still unknown how the players will work together and as a team.

For the largest part of the pre-season, Rougeyron had most of the players at his disposal, and receiver Ivovic was the only one to join the team following Eurovolley last week, where he played for Serbia. Paris' weakest link are their middle blockers and there are no quality players besides Kreek in this position. There's also no substitution for opposite Maric and if he gets injured, they could be in trouble.

- Montpellier are a quality team and I'm certain they'll race for the top. Perhaps we could have done with a weaker opponent at the beginning of the championship, but, on the other hand, Montpellier will show us just where we stand. Ivovic was the last to join us, but he fits in perfectly with the team and will play in the first round - said manager Rougeyron.

Having signed Phillip Blaine, Rafael Redwitz, John Castellani alongside Lyneel, Le rnGoff and Laffite, Montpellier are now challenging for the top four places. It was announced they would try to create the squad to challenge for the title, which is why this is the key season. The aim is to go out to Europe, which will attract other quality players to the south of France.

Despite their good team, Montpellier's ratings are still poor, which is perhaps justified because the players' names don't mean much if they haven't gelled. However, everything seems to be going great in Montpellier, at least according to Argentinian Castellani:

- I talked to a few people and they all assured me that going to Montpellier was the right thing to do. Now I'm here and don't regret it, the team is great, we have a great manager and the prerequisites for a good result.

Much will depend on the Brazilian with a French passport, setter Redwitz who is supposed to be this team's leader. Blain has great confidence in him, and he's proven his quality through the World League and the European Championship.

- We're going to Paris to outplay the runner-up. We have strengthened the team, but the Parisians are the favourites in the first game. We have to take advantage of their weaknesses, which aren't many, but still exist. The key will be receiving the service well, it would enable us to field more players and provide more opportunities for attack - explained manager Blain .

Unlike Paris, who have no quality middle blocker, Montpellier have two French national team players, Le Goff and Lafitte, as well as Austrian national team player Schneider, and this position is one of the strongest in Montpellier.

I don't understand why Paris are such favourites today. They might be the current runners-up, but this year's squad has nothing to do with last year's. Montpellier have a new squad too, but they've kept more of their old players and they have setter Redwitz who knows the majority of their players, which can't be said about his colleague Hernan of Paris.
Paris' weakest link are their middle blockers, and Montpellier look intimidating with Le Goff , Lafitte and Schneider in this position. Although he was supposed to be one of Paris' key players, Ivovic was rather late in joining them, and Montpellier's entire team has been available for two weeks now.
Finally, I believe that the away side are the better team, their manager is better and Paris just don't seem coordinated yet. Redwitz will certainly try to use the great advantage of his team when it comes to middle blockers, I expect lots of balls through the middle, and, objectively, Paris have no way of defending them. The odds of the away team's winning are definitely too high and a 2 or so seems a lot more realistic.