AC Milan has made a great start to the new season on the home front, but the same cannot be said about their performances in the UEFA Champions League this season. The Italian giants could have scored better in their opening two UCL games and are searching for a great result here to get their season going. After the 3-0 loss in Paris, they will need to respond at home.
Milan, who were quite active in the summer transfer window, have shown that they are ready to challenge for the title in the Serie A this season. As of the time of writing, the Rossoneri have recovered from a thumping derby day loss to Inter to lead the standings after eight league games. In all, Stefan Pioli’s side has shown a bit of character and a solid mentality to nick some valuable wins in recent weeks.
AC Milan opened the campaign with a routine 2-0 win over Bologna. Veteran striker Olivier Giroud, who would later be in goal in another game, played a part in both goals. He scored his side’s first goal of the season, and ten minutes later, he set up Christian Pulisic for his first goal in the red and black shirt. And in the first home game of the season, Giroud delivered again, grabbing a brace, while Theo Hernandez and Christian Pulisic added the other goals in a 4-1 win over Torino.
Stefan Pioli and Milan defeated AS Roma 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico just before the September international break, as Giroud scored in three consecutive games. A blip came against Inter as the Red and blacks were beaten 5-1 in the derby, and afterwards, the side kept going strong, and they have now climbed to the summit of the league standings.
Milan have played six games since that painful loss to Inter, and they have won four and drawn two of those games. The two draws – Newcastle at home and BVB in Germany – came in the UEFA Champions League, and Pioli will be hoping for a turnaround with three rounds of matches to go, starting with this one.
On the other hand, PSG’s Ligue One season has been topsy-turvy. Les Parisiens started the season with a goalless draw against Lorient at home. Despite the debuts given to new signings Goncalo Ramos, Kang-In Lee, Manuel Ugarte and Marco Asensio in that game, they could not light up the atmosphere in Paris, and many fans were disappointed.
The match day two encounter against Toulouse also finished in a draw. Star forward Kylian Mbappe scored PSG’s first goal of the season shortly after coming on as a substitute for Lee. Luis Enrique’s side soon found some rhythm as they got back-to-back wins over Lens at home and Lyon.
The first defeat of the season came at the hands of Nice at home, but Kylian Mbappe kept scoring for the side. Another mini run helped PSG rack up wins against Dortmund in their UCL opener, Marseille and a draw against Clermont. Away at Newcastle, the French champions were soundly beaten 4-1 at St. James’ Park before returning to winning ways in Ligue 1 with a 3-1 win over Rennes.
The group is still wide open, and many considered it the most challenging group in this year’s competition. AC Milan knows it is win or bust for them, while PSG, who have already won a game in the UEFA Champions League this term, will be keen to get another one and be among the favourites to progress from the group.
Match tickets
The match at San Siro in Milan kicks off on Tuesday, 7th November, at 9 PM UK time, and it will be shown live on TNT Sports, with coverage starting from around 8 PM.
AC Milan has been underwhelming so far and has struggled to recreate the form in Serie A in this elite competition. Another European superpower is PSG, and they will be coming to the 80,018-capacity stadium to improve their record on the road.
AC Milan may have had a fine run in the UEFA Champions League last season, but they need a significant result here. Getting tickets for AC Milan vs Paris Saint Germain tickets could be challenging, given the standard of the game and the country the opposition is coming from.
Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Line-ups
AC Milan have been solid in the Serie A this season but have performed below par in the UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, they have been dealt by injuries and suspension, but Stefan Pioli knows what to expect from his team when they file against the French side on Tuesday night. The Italians play a 4-3-3 formation, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic starting on either side of Olivier Giroud. However, with things delicately poised in the group, we might see a few changes in other pitch areas.
This match will come too soon for Ismael Bennacer and Mattia Caldara, who are expected back in November and December. Meanwhile, Ruben Loftus Cheek could return to feature.
AC Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Krunic, Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.
Les Parisiens spent a huge over the summer, but the results could have been more encouraging. On their away trip to Newcastle last time out, they were outclassed, and Luis Enrique will be aiming to avoid that again. Meanwhile, Marco Asensio, Nuno Mendes and Presnel Kimpembe are among those with respective injuries, while Kang-in Lee could return to the team after his national team assignment.
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pereira, Skriniar, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha; Mbappe, Ramos, Dembele.
Prediction
AC Milan may be unbeaten at home in all competitions, but they have been underwhelming in the UCL this season. On the other hand, PSG could have been at their best when they travelled for games.
Before their first leg meeting in Paris, their last competitive conference in the competition came in the 2000/01 season, and both ties finished in 1-1 stalemates. Milan has consistently scored against PSG at home, and Pioli hopes history repeats itself again and even leads his team to a win.
AC Milan 2-1 Paris Saint Germain
