Montpellier rather painfully beat Chartres (39-36) on Saturday at home to catch up with Nantes in the race for second place in the Starligue de handball, qualifying for the Champions League, on the 22nd day. The Héraultais (3rd, 35 pts), who led by six lengths at half-time (23-17) before being scared as the last 10 minutes approached (33-31), came back to within three points of the “H “.