MHB has started its European campaign perfectly, beating the Danes of Silkeborg with Montpellier sauce

Comme à son habitude, le capitaine Valentin Porte a montré l'exemple mardi soir. Midi Libre – Michael Esdourrubailh

Le MHB a récité son handball pour dominer largement les Danois de Silkeborg (40-26), pour la première journée de phase de groupes de la Ligue européenne, mardi 8 octobre au soir.

It must be admitted that this third and new jersey of the MHB has its own little charm. "A vibrant tribute to our Montpellier roots, our terroir and our know-how", the club had said to describe this wine-coloured tunic with orange accents.

On Tuesday against Silkeborg, Valentin Porte's teammates did honour to this new outfit of lights by crunching the Danes in Montpellier style. Certainly, the opposition of the evening at the FDI Stadium was not the fiercest, Rasmus Lauge Schmidt (33 years old) or Morten Olsen (39 years old) being quite far from their glorious past.

But Montpellier had the merit of applying themselves, reciting their handball lesson to perfection to lead well at the break (23-13). If the entire purple-aproned brigade excelled in their kitchen, it must be acknowledged that their chef, Érick Mathé, was no stranger to this excellent performance.

Tactical recital

Given the result, it is obvious that the coach prepared his move very well, making his players work this week on the incessant reversals of the Danish game, or even the one in numerical inferiority at seven against six without a goalkeeper.

The first quarter of an hour of the game was a model of its kind, as the Scandinavians broke their teeth on the Hérault defense. With a stratospheric Rémi Desbonnet to punish them by scoring three goals in empty nets, Tuesday evening.

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The French team's goalkeeper could have been named man of the match if only one had to be chosen. But others are jostling to get their star out of the kitchen. First, the four Montpellier wingers, taking advantage of the heavy Danes to be shifted to the ends or to hurt on the fast play.

Everyone shone

Their back-row buddies didn't leave their share to the dog, which was something MHB had lacked in Nantes. Bryan Monte, captain Valentin Porte and Ahmed Hesham effectively kept the threat from afar, for 60 minutes.

Whether it was through shooting or the assists given to pivots Arthur Lenne and Veron Nacinovic. The entire brigade was in tune. And we can't wait to see what they will do against completely different adversities in the four corners of Europe. With their purple apron around their necks of course.

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