Champions League: AC Milan faces a tough battle against wounded PSG

The curtains will fall on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League group stage on Wednesday, with a few blockbuster matches on show. One of those will see PSG hosting AC Milan at Parc des Princes, with both teams keen on getting back to winning ways in Europe.

Paris Saint-Germain would have been the favourites to top the ‘Group of Death’, even though it contained Newcastle United, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund. But they have not been on the money this season and lost heavily to Newcastle United after beating Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 1. As for matters at home, Luis Enrique’s men are third on the Ligue 1 table, two points behind AS Monaco.

 As for AC Milan, the Italian giants have also blown hot and cold at the start of the season. They are currently second in the Serie A table after suffering their second league defeat of the campaign to Juventus this past weekend.

Meanwhile, the Rossoneri played two stalemates in the first two games in the UEFA Champions League, going two points behind Group F leaders Newcastle United.

PSG and AC Milan played out two stalemates the last time they clashed in the UEFA Champions League, back in the 2000/01 season. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Luis Enrique has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against AC Milan on Wednesday, the PSG manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players.

Achraf Hakimi, Layvin Kurzawa, Ousmane Dembele, and Randal Kolo Muani are all available after returning from their respective suspensions. But Sergio Rico (head), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Warren Zaire-Emery (ankle), and Marco Asensio (foot) remain on the sidelines.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is an automatic pick between the sticks, with PSG lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. Hakimi will return to the starting eleven, joining Marquinhos, Milan Skriniar, and Lucas Hernandez in the backline.

As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park, with Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz supporting him. But Ruiz will also look to provide the creative impetus from the middle of the park. Finally, Goncalo Ramos will spearhead the PSG attack, with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele completing the numbers in the attack.

Like his counterpart in the PSG dugout, Stefano Pioli has a few pressing concerns hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Parc des Princes. But the AC Milan boss does not have any players returning and will be without five first-team stars.

Ismael Bennacer is the most notable absentee, with the Algerian midfielder recovering from a knee injury. Bennacer accompanies Marco Sportiello (calf), Mattia Caldara (ankle), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (muscle injury), and Samuel Chukwueze (thigh) on the sidelines.

Mike Maignan will feature in the goal, with AC Milan lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. The defensive unit should feature Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, and Theo Hernandez. Calabria and Hernandez will be the creative workhorses for the visiting side.

As for the midfield unit, Rade Krunic will play the anchor role, looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Yunus Musah and Tijjani Reijnders will be the two box-to-box midfielders, looking to provide the forward thrust. Finally, Olivier Giroud will spearhead the AC Milan attack against PSG, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic being the wide attackers.