DEFEAT IN PARIS
Champions League
It's a difficult one to take. We leave the Parc des Princes having lost 3-0, which is tough to wrap our heads around since the Rossoneri were well in the game in the first half an hour but couldn't capitalise on their chances. Mbappé's goal broke the deadlock and, before Kolo Muani scored PSG's second, a spurned chance following link-up between Pulisic and Giroud had heads in hands. Late on, after spurning some chances of their own, PSG added a third through Kang-In Lee. Staying true to their principles, the team went at it hammer and tongs against a top team, despite knowing the risks. The tactics looked to be working initially until late on when PSG began to threaten almost at will.
The situation as it stands in the group, following Dortmund's win away at Newcastle (1-0), has us in fourth place with just two points to our name. But it's still all to play for and anything is possible, but only if AC Milan have correct the things that have gone wrong in these opening three matches. Despite the absences, the Rossoneri still showed that they have the weapons to hurt any team, and they will need to remember that for the remainder of the group stage, which continues on 7 November against PSG at San Siro. Before that, it's Napoli at the Maradona on Sunday night.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM PSG v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
An aggressive start from the home side forced the Rossoneri into picking up two early bookings: Thiaw and Krunić after four and seven minutes, respectively. After containing the pressure from PSG, we were able to slowly get into the game, winning the ball back high up the pitch and through quick transitioning. We created the first scare of the night on twelve minutes, when Pulisic played in a low corner to Rafa, but his shot was way off target. Ten minutes later, Mbappé got into the action, but his well-struck shot from the edge of the area was easy for Mike to stop. At the other end, we replied with a quality move that Leão started and finished on 26 minutes, cutting back inside onto his right only to see his effort fly just wide of the far post. On 32’, after going for goal again just prior, World Cup champion Mbappé struck the first blow: a double overstep and a right-foot shot sweetly placed into the bottom corner gave Mike no chance and the Parisians the lead. The goal shook the Rossoneri, who until that moment had been forward thinking and well in the game.
The second half started off with the first change of the night, Calabria replacing Thiaw, and a great opportunity to equalise: Donnarumma came rushing out to beat Reijnders to the ball on the edge of the penalty area, but his header fell to Giroud, whose following header nearly looped over the Italian keeper, who just got back in time. On the break, Dembélé scored a few minutes later, but a VAR review overturned the goal for a foul on Musah in the build-up. A rollercoaster of game at the Parc des Princes continued with Pulisic breaking forward finding himself one-on-one with Donnarumma, but instead of shooting he squared to Giroud, overhitting his pass slightly and Oli’s shot, from a tight angle, was saved easily. PSG did eventually double their lead after 53' through Kolo Muani: Dembélé’s shot could only be parried by Mike and following up was the French forward to put the ball into an empty net from close range to make it 2-0. Maignan saved from Mbappé on 58’ and following another two bookings, Tomori and Kalulu, we went back on the attack with Pulisic, who cut back inside onto his left and fired straight into the hands of Donnarumma. It was Pulisic again carving out another chance on 77' with a superb ball for Rafa, but his effort deflected off Hakimi and the goalkeeper to go behind. From a corner, Giroud also tried his luck, rising above everyone, but his header was too central and weak to cause any danger. On the break, the home side nearly grabbed a third, with Maignan making an outstanding fingertip save from Mbappé. But he could do nothing to stop Lee’s goal two minutes before the end of normal time: the Korean received a ball in from Zaïre-Emery and found the corner to seal the game 3-0.
MATCH DETAILS
PSG 3-0 AC MILAN
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi (93' Mukiele), Marquinhos, Škriniar, L. Hernández; Zaïre-Emery, Ugarte (71' Fabián Ruiz), Vitinha; Dembélé (71' Lee), Kolo Muani (82' Ramos), Mbappé. Subs.: Letellier, Tenas; Danilo, Soler; Barcola, Ramos. Coach: Luis Enrique.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Kalulu, Thiaw (46' Calabria), Tomori (90' Kjær), T. Hernández; Musah (77' Pobega), Krunić (77' Adli), Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leão. Subs.: Mirante, Nava; Bartesaghi, Florenzi; Jović, Traorè. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (SVN).
Goal: 32' Mbappé (P), 53' Kolo Muani (P), 89' Lee (P).
Booked: 4' Thiaw (M), 7' Krunić (M), 17' Hakimi (P), 44' Dembélé (P), 61' Tomori (M), 62' Kalulu (M).
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