Paris Saint-Germain will be eager to put their 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United behind them when they host AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. The French champions were outplayed by the Magpies in their last group game, leaving them second in Group G with three points. PSG need a win to keep pace with Newcastle, who lead the group with six points and face Borussia Dortmund in the other match.
PSG have been dominant in Ligue 1, winning all nine of their games so far and scoring 33 goals. They have a formidable attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, who have combined for 19 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. However, they have been less convincing in Europe, struggling to break down Dortmund in their opening game and being exposed by Newcastle’s pace and intensity.
PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino will hope that his star players can deliver on the big stage and show their quality against a tough opponent. He will also need to address his team’s defensive frailties, as they have conceded seven goals in two Champions League games. PSG have lost just one of their last 34 Champions League group stage home matches, so they will be confident of getting a positive result at the Parc des Princes.
AC Milan aim to end their goal drought in Europe
AC Milan have had a contrasting start to their Champions League campaign, as they have kept two clean sheets but failed to score in their first two games. The Italian side have drawn 0-0 with both Newcastle and Dortmund, leaving them third in Group G with two points. AC Milan need to find their scoring touch if they want to challenge for the top two spots and qualify for the knockout stage.
AC Milan have been impressive in Serie A, winning seven of their eight games and scoring 21 goals. They are second in the table, one point behind leaders Napoli. They have a balanced squad, with experienced players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Olivier Giroud and Simon Kjaer, and young talents like Franck Kessie, Sandro Tonali and Brahim Diaz. They also have a charismatic coach in Stefano Pioli, who has instilled a winning mentality and a solid defensive system.
AC Milan have a rich history in the Champions League, having won the trophy seven times, the last one in 2007. However, they have not reached the knockout stage since 2013/14, and they have not scored in their last four Champions League matches. They will need to end their goal drought and show more creativity and flair against PSG, who have won their last three games against Italian sides in all competitions.
Key players to watch
One of the main attractions of this game will be the clash between two of the best forwards in the world: Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Both players have been prolific this season, scoring 10 goals each in all competitions. Mbappe has been involved in more Champions League group stage goals than any other player since the start of 2017/18, scoring 26 and providing 20 assists. Ibrahimovic has scored 48 goals in 120 Champions League appearances, including four for PSG between 2012 and 2016.
Both players are also linked with a potential move away from their current clubs, as Mbappe’s contract with PSG expires next summer and he has been heavily linked with Real Madrid. Ibrahimovic’s contract with AC Milan also runs out next summer, and he has hinted at a possible return to PSG before he retires. Both players will be keen to impress and prove their worth on Wednesday, as they face each other for the first time.
Another key player to watch will be Yunus Musah, who has been a revelation for PSG this season. The 20-year-old American midfielder joined PSG from Valencia in August for €25 million, and he has quickly established himself as a regular starter under Pochettino. He has scored three goals and provided two assists in nine Ligue 1 games, showing his versatility, energy and skill. He has also been booked twice in his two Champions League appearances so far, so he will need to be careful not to get into trouble with the referee.
Musah will face a tough challenge against AC Milan’s midfield duo of Kessie and Tonali, who have been instrumental in their team’s success this season. Kessie is a powerful box-to-box midfielder who can score goals, win tackles and create chances. Tonali is a deep-lying playmaker who can dictate the tempo, spray passes and protect the back four. They will try to dominate the midfield battle and disrupt PSG’s rhythm.
Prediction
This game promises to be an exciting and high-quality encounter between two of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. Both teams have plenty of talent, ambition and motivation to win this game and boost their chances of qualifying for the next round. However, PSG have the edge in terms of firepower, home advantage and experience in the Champions League. They will be determined to bounce back from their humiliating defeat to Newcastle and show their class against AC Milan. We predict a 2-0 win for PSG, with Mbappe scoring the first goal.
