The Danish side responded strongly to their disappointing 12-goal defeat against domestic rivals GOG over the weekend, delivering a disciplined performance at Arena Zagreb to strengthen their position in the group phase.
Aalborg combined an organised defence with clinical attacking play, while German playmaker Juri Knorr and goalkeeper Niklas Landin played key roles in the convincing away victory.
Knorr leads Aalborg’s attacking display
Aalborg gradually took control after the sides were level at 3–3 in the opening stages.
Knorr orchestrated the visitors’ attack with intelligent movement and precise finishing, scoring six goals from eight attempts to finish as the match’s leading scorer for Aalborg.
Mads Hoxer and Tobias Storm Nielsen also contributed five goals apiece, helping the visitors maintain their advantage as Zagreb struggled to contain the Danish side’s attacking options.
Aalborg’s efficiency was evident before half-time, with the visitors converting 17 of their 21 attempts to establish a 17–12 lead at the break.
Landin punishes Zagreb’s attacking gamble
Goalkeeper Niklas Landin proved influential at both ends of the court, making 10 saves and scoring once.
Zagreb attempted to create numerical superiority in attack by deploying a seven-on-six system, but the strategy left their goal exposed when possession was lost.
Landin capitalised on one such opportunity, saving an attempt before throwing the ball into the unguarded Croatian net.
His performance helped Aalborg maintain control and limited Zagreb’s ability to build sustained pressure.
Six-goal run settles the contest
Zagreb briefly threatened a comeback after the restart, reducing the deficit to 17–14.
However, Aalborg responded with a devastating six-goal unanswered run, stretching their advantage to 23–14 and effectively ending the hosts’ hopes of recovering.
The visitors’ defensive intensity and quick transitions proved too much for Zagreb, who struggled to find consistent attacking solutions during the decisive spell.
Although Zagreb’s Filip Glavaš scored 10 goals from 10 attempts, his outstanding individual performance could not prevent the home side from suffering a 10-goal defeat.
Aalborg continued to control proceedings in the closing stages, securing a comfortable victory that restored confidence after their domestic setback.
Aalborg remain unbeaten in Champions League group
The victory left Aalborg alongside Paris Saint-Germain at the top of their Champions League group, with both teams on five points.
The two sides are scheduled to meet in Paris towards the end of October in a fixture that could prove important in determining the group standings.
For Aalborg, the win demonstrated their ability to respond quickly to adversity and reinforced their ambitions in Europe’s premier club handball competition.
Zagreb, meanwhile, will need to recover from the defeat and improve their attacking consistency as they continue their campaign.