Paris Saint-Germain established control of the tightly contested group with a convincing 3-0 victory over AC Milan just two weeks ago. This left AC Milan in a precarious position, at risk of an early exit from European football. AC Milan faced a formidable 17-year-old talent in Warren Zaire-Emery, who orchestrated PSG's triumph.
Kylian Mbappe and Lee Kang-in both capitalized on Zaire-Emery's assists, and Randal Kolo Muani also found the net, resulting in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for PSG. AC Milan's domestic form has also taken a hit with no wins in their last three Serie A matches as winter approaches.
While AC Milan can be forgiven for losing to Juventus through a deflected goal by Manuel Locatelli, they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with underperforming champions Napoli and then suffered a surprise 1-0 home loss to Udinese, courtesy of a Roberto Pereyra penalty.
Notably, AC Milan went from conceding just one goal in six matches from September 19 to October 7, including goalless draws in Group F against Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United. However, they have now allowed seven goals in their last four games. If one of Borussia Dortmund or Newcastle United secures a win at Signal Iduna Park, a defeat in this match would leave AC Milan's hopes of finishing in the top two hanging by a thread.
As it stands, AC Milan is just two points behind Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United. However, they have gone five Champions League games without scoring a goal, putting them at risk of failing to score in three consecutive top-level European home matches for the first time ever. PSG, having previously defeated Newcastle United 4-1 and Borussia Dortmund by two goals, can officially eliminate AC Milan from contention for the top spot by repeating their prior victory over the struggling Italian side. PSG is clearly in better form.
Warren Zaire-Emery, who impressed with two assists against AC Milan and a stunning goal against Brest, is making a name for himself. He continued to shine in PSG's recent match against Montpellier HSC, scoring his side's second goal, along with goals from Vitinha and Kang. Kang has also been proving his worth to PSG since his summer arrival.
While AC Milan is struggling to find the back of the net, PSG enters this match on the back of a remarkable five-game winning streak, scoring three goals in each of those matches and conceding just three goals in total. PSG temporarily claimed the top spot in the Ligue 1 table from Nice during this run.
AC Milan cannot secure qualification for the knockout stage regardless of the outcome of this week's match. PSG has only managed two wins in their last 10 Champions League away matches, and they haven't kept a clean sheet in European competitions on the road since a 2-0 win against Istanbul Basaksehir in October 2020.
Nonetheless, PSG has already broken one unwanted streak in this season's Champions League, having failed to win any of their four previous meetings with Milan before their three-goal victory in October. PSG is now aiming for their fifth consecutive win over Italian opponents.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
AC Milan's recent dip in form has been compounded by a significant injury list. Defender Pierre Kalulu will be sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery for a tendon injury. Center-back Simon Kjaer also missed the match against Udinese due to a muscular issue.Additionally, several other key players are unavailable, including Marco Pellegrino (heel), Marco Sportiello (calf), Ismael Bennacer (knee), and Mattia Caldara (ankle). Theo Hernandez was absent over the weekend due to ankle bruising, but Milan's coach, Stefano Pioli, is hopeful that he will recover in time for Tuesday's match. Samuel Chukwueze and Christian Pulisic may also return to action after being rested as a precaution during the weekend.
On the other side, PSG has also faced a recent setback in their defense. Danilo Pereira suffered a hamstring injury, which will keep him out of action until the end of November. Several other players, including Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Sergio Rico (head trauma), and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), won't be available for the upcoming match.
Marco Asensio is dealing with a foot injury, and Keylor Navas has a back concern, keeping them both on the sidelines for the time being. Lucas Hernandez is expected to return to the lineup, except at left-back, following a surprise inclusion in the previous game, setting the stage for a potential matchup against his brother, who plays for AC Milan.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
AC Milan possible starting lineup:Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, T. Hernandez; Musah, Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, L. Hernandez; Dembele, Ugarte, Zaire-Emery, Lee; Kolo Muani, Mbappe
EXPERT PREDICTION
AC Milan 1-2 PSG
Milan might make a few alterations to their lineup after the defeat on Saturday in the hopes of putting up a more solid defense against PSG. However, it's expected that the Ligue 1 champions will find the back of the net on multiple occasions, either maintaining or extending their lead in Group F. Additionally, PSG could achieve a rare clean sheet in a Champions League away game, adding to their achievements.
