Elohim Prandi shines as PSG defeats Aalborg in Champions League
In a highly anticipated match between two contenders for the Final Four, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hosted Aalborg at Coubertin. The game lived up to the hype, with both teams fighting till the end. In the final minutes, PSG managed to take a decisive advantage and emerged victorious with a final score of 33-30.
The atmosphere at Coubertin was electric, with a packed crowd and no absentees in the PSG lineup. From the beginning, both teams were evenly matched, with neither able to establish a significant lead. Despite numerous turnovers from both sides (10’30, 7-7), the game remained tight. However, Aalborg’s performance faltered for a brief period, allowing PSG to capitalize on their mistakes and build a four-goal lead (20′, 13-9). As the first half neared its end, Elohim Prandi showcased his skills, exposing Aalborg’s defense. Hangaard Hoxer retaliated for Aalborg, bringing them level just before the break (30′, 15-14).
As the second half began, PSG seemed to lose their precision and efficiency. Mathieu Grebille struggled against Aalborg’s goalkeeper, Fabien Norsten, and Prandi continued his impressive performance from the first half. Aalborg’s strong start forced PSG coach Raul Gonzalez to call a timeout in the third minute to regroup. Despite their shaky start, PSG managed to keep up with Aalborg but found themselves trailing for a majority of the second half, partly due to Mikkel Hansen’s exceptional performance (7 goals). The match took a turn when, during a defensive play, the Karabatic brothers committed a foul that led to Luka Karabatic receiving a red card. Despite being down to 6 players, PSG showed great resilience and regained the lead just before the final 10 minutes, capitalizing on three consecutive turnovers caused by their aggressive defense (50′, 25-24). Aalborg failed to make a comeback, and Prandi, who had struggled earlier in the game, stepped up with 5 crucial goals in the last 10 minutes. PSG’s strong finish secured them a valuable victory against a direct competitor in their group (33-30).
