Tough nut to crack for the Zebras in France

There are no more small clubs in a Champions League quarter-final. All eight teams playing there have the class and quality to even win the title. Our Montpellier vs THW Kiel betting tip shows that the two former winners of the premier class certainly have the format to make it to the Final Four

When we think of French handball, we usually think of the Equipe Tricolore or, at club level, Paris Saint-Germain. However, Montpellier Handball are not only the French record champions, but also two-time winners of the premier league. Just like in soccer, PSG have still not been granted the latter. Tradition alone shows what a tough opponent awaits THW on Wednesday.

However, the Zebras will be ready for anything. After two tough away games in the Bundesliga in Hamburg and Berlin, the atmosphere in France is unlikely to get any hotter. The Bundesliga side are seen as slight favorites in this encounter, but it is important that Filip Jicha’s team do not allow themselves a weak period in France and are highly focused for 60 minutes.

If the team from Schleswig-Holstein can do that, we are confident that our prediction of an away win between Montpellier and THW Kiel is correct, even if a success for the Zebras is anything but a foregone conclusion.

Montpellier – statistics & current form

Montpellier Handball has had numerous outstanding world-class players over the last 30 years. The current squad is also very well stocked with a number of French and foreign internationals. The star of the club, however, is coach Patrice Canayer, who has been at the helm of Montpellier for 30 years and is giving up his life’s work at the end of the season and passing it on to other hands.

Champions League as last title hope

A major farewell title would be the icing on the cake of the 63-year-old’s great career. However, that is unlikely to work at national level. Montpellier fell to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. In the championship, they are only in third place behind the capital and Nantes with five match days to go. They are seven points off the top.

All that remains is the Champions League crown as a farewell present for the departing coach. Although they only finished fourth in the group stage, they won in Barcelona and only conceded two narrow defeats against Magdeburg. MHB have now decided to play in the smaller FDI Arena, where the spectators are even closer than in the Arena du Sud. The Zebras can definitely expect the next cauldron there.

Generally speaking, they are in decent form. The French side are unbeaten in seven games, but have also had to settle for a draw twice. This season has shown that the French record champions can keep up with the top teams, but usually do not have the better end of the stick. Perhaps this is the decisive clue to play the odds on an away win between Montpellier and THW Kiel.

Predicted Montpellier line-up:
Bolzinger, Desbonnet – Berthier, Fernandez, Karlsson, Konan, A. Lenne, Y. Lenne, Monte, Nacinovic, Panic, Pellas, Porte, Prat, Simonet, Skube – Coach: Canayer

THW Kiel – Statistics & current form

What applies to the French opponents can also be applied to THW Kiel. There is no title to be won at national level this season. If you want to get something shiny for the showcase, you have to triumph in the Champions League. The Zebras are certainly not the favorites in this regard, but should they make it to the Final Four, then anything is possible.

Zebras slightly behind expectations

In the Bundesliga, Filip Jicha’s team will perhaps finish third, but more likely fourth. The top teams from Magdeburg and Berlin have been much more consistent this year. Overall, Kiel have played what could be expected of them in the league, perhaps with one or two too many minus points in their account. On the other hand, THW performed at a consistently high level in the top flight, winning their group

In recent weeks, the Zebras have either not played well or have not been rewarded accordingly for a good game. Kiel have only won two of their last five competitive games, but struggled to victories against Lemgo and Eisenach. They also suffered a heavy home defeat against their arch-rivals from Flensburg. A different face must be shown in France, otherwise it will be tricky to hold on to the prediction of an away win between Montpellier and THW Kiel.

However, Kiel are capable of performing well even under adverse conditions, as they showed on Saturday in the top match in Berlin. Although the Zebras trailed 0:5 after just a few minutes, an incendiary speech by Filip Jicha during the timeout paid off. In the end, THW took at least a point in the capital, 32:32, and may well have robbed the Foxes of their last chance of winning the German championship.

Predicted THW Kiel line-up:
Bellahcene, Mrkva – Bilyk, Dahmke, Duvnjak, Ehrig, Ekberg, Ellefsen, Johansson, Överby, Pekeler, Reinkind, Szilagyi, Wallinius, Weinhold, Wiencek – Coach: Jicha

Montpellier – THW Kiel head-to-head comparison / H2H result

It is certainly not the case that two unknowns will face each other in Montpellier on Saturday. The two rivals have met eight times in total. All of these matches were played in the Champions League. In the direct comparison, the Zebras have a 6-2 lead. There has never been a draw between the two clubs.

The last two meetings were in the 2021/22 season, when they faced each other in the group stage. The French side initially ran out clear winners in Montpellier with a 37:30 victory, but THW were able to return the favor impressively in the second leg with a 35:26 win. It is exciting that this will be the first time the two clubs have met on the pitch in a match in the knockout phase.

Montpellier – THW Kiel tip

The FDI Arena will certainly be a cauldron on Wednesday. Montpellier will do everything in their power to win their last home game in the Champions League in the era of coach Patrice Canayer. Kiel, on the other hand, will be looking to establish a decent starting position for the second leg. The odds seem to play into the Zebras’ hands.

However, Kiel have only won two of their last five competitive matches. Even if the Zebras are favored, you should consider betting on an away win between Montpellier and THW in the Bet365 app. After all, the French have not lost in seven games and have proven in the Champions League that they can make life difficult for the favorites

We can imagine that it will be a very close game. Perhaps the Zebras will have the better end on their side. It might also make sense to bet on a small positive handicap for the French. However, because we are not sure enough about the outcome of the game, we have decided to play the odds on more than 57.5 goals between Montpellier and THW Kiel