AC Milan eye revenge in return clash against PSG
Italian giants AC Milan will be hoping to provide some much-needed response in a bid to save their 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season when they host Paris Saint Germain at the San Siro on Tuesday night.
The Rossoneri were beaten 0-3 in the first leg by the French outfit in an outcome that left them without a win in their opening three European games.
That poor run in the Champions League currently sees the last season semi-finalists occupying bottom spot in Group F having managed only two points (D2 L1).
With confidence seemingly at an all-time low, Milan’s resolve is set to be severely tested once again when Kylian Mbappe and co land in Italy.
On their part, PSG will be looking to cement their place in top spot where they have a two-point advantage over Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle who sit in second and third respectively on 4 points each.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the clash.
What time does AC Milan vs PSG start?
The Round 4 match in Group F is slated to kick off at 21:00pm CET.
AC Milan vs PSG Team News
Milan’s downturn in form has coincided with a hefty injury list, as defender Pierre Kalulu has been ruled out for four months following an operation on a tendon injury, while fellow centre-back Simon Kjaer also missed the Udinese loss with a muscular concern.
Marco Pellegrino (heel), Marco Sportiello (calf), Ismael Bennacer (knee) and Mattia Caldara (ankle) are also out of action for the ravaged Rossoneri, who additionally had to make do without Theo Hernandez at the weekend after the Frenchman sustained bruising to his ankle.
Pioli is hopeful that Hernandez will be able to shake off his affliction in time for the contest, while Samuel Chukwueze and Christian Pulisic could also make their comebacks here following precautionary rests over the weekend.
PSG were also hit with a fresh defensive blow before taking on Montpellier, as Danilo Pereira was revealed to have suffered a hamstring injury, which will keep the versatile Portuguese sidelined until the conclusion of November’s international break.
Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Sergio Rico (head trauma) and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) will not be making their comebacks just yet either, while Marco Asensio’s foot injury and Keylor Navas’s back concern will also keep both men unavailable for the time being.
Nordi Mukiele was a surprise inclusion at left-back last time out, but Lucas Hernandez ought to return to an otherwise unaltered XI ahead of a potential reunion with his Rossoneri-clad brother.
AC Milan vs PSG head-to-head
Paris and Milan have met five times in official matches, always in the UEFA Champions League: two defeats, 0-1 on 05/04/1995 and 0-2 on 19/04/1995 in the semi-finals of the competition, two 1-1 draws, on 14/02/2001 and 20/02/2001 in the group stage before PSG’s 3-0 win at the Parc des Princes on 25 October this year.
There have been 6 friendly matches between the two teams (1 win, 1 draw and 4 defeats), with the last friendly between the two teams coming on 4 January 2012 with a 1-0 Italian victory in Dubai.
AC Milan vs PSG Current Form
Paris Saint-Germain are on an eight-match unbeaten run against Italian clubs in European competition: two matches against AC Milan in 2000-2001, two against Napoli in 2018-2019, one against Atalanta in 2019-2020, two wins over Juventus last season and the most recent 3-0 victory over the Rossoneri.
In their last five matches, the Parisiens are on a five-match winning streak while Milan have not won in any of their last four matches (D1 L3).
AC Milan vs PSG Prediction
PSG are billed as the favourites in the clash and will be out to maintain their lead at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Milan are desperate for a first victory in the group stage as they hope to replicate their heroics from last season.
With both sides pushing for results, it would be no surprise to see both teams scoring this evening
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