The regular season in the French League has come to an end.
The games of the 18th round were played this week. The visiting teams were more successful – the hosts left the pool empty-handed in four of five matches.
Marseille and Strasbourg faced off in the derby, but this match could change nothing in the rankings. Both teams have qualified for the semifinals directly. Marseille secured 1st place a long time ago. Strasbourg couldn’t move from 2nd place. Marseille beat Strasbourg (15:11) and finished the regular season with a perfect 18-0 record.
The crucial match of the day was an encounter between Montpellier and Noisy-le-Sec, played in Montpellier. Noisy recorded a 12:9 victory and kept 3rd place before the playoffs. Montpellier finished 6th. These two teams will meet again in the quarterfinals.
Playoffs – quarterfinals: Noisy-le-Sec – Montpellier, Tourcoing – Pays d’Aix. Semifinals: Marseille – Tourcoing/Pays d’Aix, Strasbourg – Noisy-le-Sec/Montpellier.
2021/22 French League, Day 18
Montpellier – Noisy-le-Sec 9:12 (3:5, 2:2, 1:1, 3:4)
Montpellier: Kalinic 4, Delas 2, I.Zivkovic 2, Spillaert 1.
Cercle 93 Noisy-le-Sec: Peisson 4, Petkovic 4, Marzouki 1, Krapic 1, Saudadier 1, Bjorch 1.
Strasbourg – Marseille 11:15 (3:3,3:7, 3:3, 2:2)
Team Strasbourg: Babic 3, Canovas 3, Bachelier 1, Vic 1, Buha 1, Misic 1, Valentino 1.
CN Marseille: Bodegas 4, Prlainovic 3, Crousillat 2, Kovacevic 2, Olivon 1, Bouet 1, Marion-Vernoux 1, Vukicevic 1.
Tourcoing – Reims 20:13 (3:3, 5:1, 6:6, 6:3)
EN Tourcoing: Rocchietta 6, Gagulic 4, Randjic 3, Krisman 2,Kujacic 2, Crosetti 2, Vincourt 1.
Stade de Reims: Culina 6, Pesteric 3, De Bie 1, Dubar 1, Jakhaia 1, Buden 1,
Pays d’Aix – Douai 3:9 (0:1, 1:1, 1:6, 1:1)
Pays d’Aix: Dino 1, Bakircilar 1, Pirat 1.
FNC Douai:Beteille 2, Lepoint 2, Balaz 2, Michel 1, Vitrant 1, Degaille 1.
Sete – Nice 9:13 (3:4, 1:4, 2:5, 3:0)
Sete:Chandieu 3, Aquila 1, Sauton 1, Keuning 1, Roussel 1, Jovanovic 1.
Nice: K.Butic 4, Cakic 4,Stevenson 2, D.Butic 2, Sterling 1.
Noisy had an advantage throughout the game against Montpellier. The hosts equalized just twice in the early stage of the match (1:1, 2:2). After that, Noisy dictated the pace, but everything was open until the final quarter. The Parisians built a 2-goal lead in the first period (5:3). Both teams scored three goals apiece in the middle two quarters. Noisy led 8:6 before the final period. Early in the fourth, Montpellier halved the deficit (7:8). Noisy answered with three goals in a row. The visitors jumped to an 11:7 lead (28th minute) and there was no way back for Montpellier.
Tourcoing didn’t care much about defense in the match against bottom-placed Reims. Still, the favorite recorded a convincing 20:13 win. But, this victory didn’t help Tourcoing move to 3rd place since Noisy collected the points in Montpellier.
The game Strasbourg – Marseille was an even contest until 5:5. Marseille broke the rival in the second half of the second quarter. The visitors netted five unanswered goals in 02:18 minutes. They jumped to 10:5 and controlled the match in the remaining time.
Douai upset Pays d’Aix, which managed to score only three goals. A 6:1 third period was crucial for Douai’s 9:3 victory. But this match had no importance. Pays d’Aix cemented 5th place before the 18th round. Montpellier couldn’t endanger their 5th place, because Aix won 4 points in the games Montpellier. Douai couldn’t reach 6th place and the playoffs.
Nice finished the season with a 13:9 win over Sete and confirmed 8th place.
1.Marseille 18 – 54
2. Strasbourg 18 – 43
3. Noisy-le-Sec 18 – 35
4. Tourcoing 18 – 34
5. Pays d’Aix 18 – 26
6. Montpellier 18 – 23
7. Douai 18 – 21
8. Nice 18 – 13
9. Sete 18 – 9
10. Reims 18 – 7
