Preview: 5 things about Aalborg - Paris

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On Thursday evening, Paris Saint-Germain Handball travel to Aalborg as part of EHF Champions League Matchday 10, aiming to end the European year on a high. We take a look ahead to this crunch clash.

1 - THE TABLE

Since losing in Paris on Matchday 5 (33-30), Aalborg have recorded three wins and a draw in their double-headers against Kolstad and Kiel. The Danes were particularly impressive defensively in Germany (18-27) before repeating the feat last week in the Scandinavian derby against Kolstad in Trondheim (18-29). Still unbeaten at home this season, Aalborg will be looking to extend their lead over the capital club to five points.

Currently fifth in Group A, Raul Gonzalez's men have been lacklustre in recent weeks. Having gone four games without a win in the EHF Champions League, Les Rouge et Bleu will be keen to get back to winning ways in Aalborg in a match that could prove decisive, as there are only four group-stage matches remaining, to be played in February and March 2024. Against the Danes, who are still unbeaten at home this season, the task looks anything but easy.

2 - THE HANSEN THREAT

Aalborg not only have the second-best defence in the EHF Champions League (239 goals conceded), they also boast the second-best attacking record in Group A. With 269 goals scored, only capital club have done better (270 goals). One player in particular stands out in this Danish attack: Mikkel Hansen. The Parisian legend, who wore the Rouge et Bleu jersey between 2012 and 2022, already has 47 goals and 30 assists to his name in nine Champions League games this season. The left-back's best performance of the season? That was against Paris, when he scored seven times. Raul Gonzalez's men have been warned: Mikki will surely be the main threat for the Danes.

3 - THE OTHER MATCHES

Among the other Group A fixtures, Kiel play host to Kolstad with the aim of winning to ensure they finish the year at the top of the group. The Germans, who recently beat Paris (26-24), have 12 points, one more than Les Rouge et Bleu's opponents Aalborg and current third-placed side Kielce. The Poles, unbeaten in their last five matches, are on a two-match winning streak and will be aiming to continue that run against Szeged, who are tied with Kolstad and Raul Gonzalez's men in sixth. Beaten in Zagreb last week, the Hungarians are nonetheless formidable at home, with four wins from five games. Their only slip-up at the Pick Arena this season? Against the capital club on Matchday 1 (29-31). Finally, Eurofarm Pelister play host to Zagreb on Thursday in the match of death. Still stuck on zero points, the Macedonians will be eliminated if they do not win against the Croatians, who currently lie seventh with eight points.

4 - HEAD TO HEAD

The Parisians and the Danes have crossed swords six times in their history in the competition. The capital club have a perfect record against Aalborg in the group stage, with five wins from as many games. Les Rouge et Bleus' only defeat against the Danes came in the Final4 of the 2021 edition of the EHF Champions League.

5 - HOW TO FOLLOW THE MATCH

Throw-off: 18:45
Television: Eurosport
Social networks: Live-Tweet

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)