Yahia Khaled scores six as Paris Saint-Germain hold Aalborg to Champions League draw

Paris Saint-Germain came from two goals down late in the match to draw 33-33 with Danish side Aalborg in the opening round of the Handball Champions League.

The Group C preliminary-round contest ended level after Aalborg had established a two-goal advantage with the final stages approaching. Paris Saint-Germain managed to recover and secure a share of the points in a closely fought encounter.

Egypt international Yahia Khaled was among Paris Saint-Germain’s leading performers, scoring six goals during the match. He finished as the second-highest scorer for the French capital club.

The result leaves both teams with a draw from their first match in Group C, which also includes Dinamo Zagreb and Slovenian club Celje.

The competition’s preliminary round features 24 teams divided into six groups. The top two sides in each group will qualify for the main round, meaning 12 teams will progress.

Those 12 qualifiers will then be split between two groups in the next phase of the Handball Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain will play Dinamo Zagreb in their next match on Wednesday. The meeting will provide the French side with an opportunity to claim its first victory of the campaign after it was forced to settle for a point against Aalborg.

Aalborg had appeared on course to begin the group stage with a win after moving two goals clear late in the game. Paris Saint-Germain’s response ensured the teams could not be separated, with the final score reflecting the balance of the opening-round contest.

Khaled’s six goals made a significant contribution to the result, with only one Paris Saint-Germain player scoring more than him. His performance helped the French club remain in contention in a group that also contains Dinamo Zagreb and Celje.

The first two places in each of the six groups are decisive because they are the positions that lead to the main round. Once the 12 qualifying teams have been confirmed, they will be allocated to two groups for the next stage of the tournament.

For now, both Paris Saint-Germain and Aalborg begin their campaigns with one point. The French club’s attention will turn to Wednesday’s fixture against Dinamo Zagreb, while the wider group also includes Celje, representing Slovenia.