Never in its history has PSG handball experienced such a dark streak in the Champions League. Remaining four games without a victory in a row, the Parisian club has almost given up on the first two places in Group A, synonymous with direct qualification for the quarter-finals. Traveling to Aalborg, Denmark, this Thursday, he will above all try to get his head back on track to ensure his place in the top 6 and approach the play-offs under better auspices.
PSG will try to summon its memories of the first leg. In October in his Pierre de Coubertin room, he won with forceps against the vice-champion of Denmark (33-30), led by his former star Mikkel Hansen. But the Parisian collapse at the end of the match during the trip to Kiel last Thursday (26-24 defeat) did not really reassure. Since then, Nikola Karabatic and his teammates have won the championship in Toulouse (31-34), but need more guarantees.
Their schedule for the rest of the European season promises to be tough indeed. Currently fifth in its group after its failed debut, PSG, if it does not stumble against Zagreb, should in fact be forced to go through the play-offs, the unofficial round of 16, at the end of March, before possibly competing a quarter without the home advantage. The road to a second Final Four in a row therefore promises to be strewn with pitfalls.
The Champions League match between Aalborg and PSG Handball is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. this Thursday, December 7, and will be broadcast live on Eurosport 2.
