Coach Luis Enrique says PSG's upcoming Champions League clash against AC Milan is crucial to qualification from a challenging Group F. After a shock 4-1 loss to Newcastle United, PSG finished second in the group and are expecting tough home-away games against the seven-time champions PSG-AC Milan match is crucial for their chances of progressing to the next round: Luis Enrique PSG are one point behind group leaders Newcastle United and one point ahead of AC Milan. PSG will face seven-time champions Milan in their next two meetings at home and away Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash against AC Milan will be crucial to their chances of qualifying from a tough group, coach Luis Enrique said on the eve of the match at the Parc des Princes.
Champions League: Donnarumma prepares to face former club as PSG host AC Milan at UCL
Donnarumma, who joined PSG two years ago after leaving AC Milan, will be up against his old club, with brothers Lucas and Theo Hernandez coming head-to-head for the first time. Donnarumma made over 250 appearances for Milan after joining the team. He was 16 years old. In two weeks' time, the 24-year-old goalkeeper will play against the opposition for the first time at the San Siro. | Photo credit: Getty Images Emotions will be on display and points will be on their minds when Paris Saint-Germain host AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who joined PSG as a free agent two years ago after leaving AC Milan, will be up against his old club, while brothers Lucas and Theo Hernandez go head-to-head for the first time. There will be many emotions. It will be special,” Donnarumma said on Tuesday. “But you have to put all that aside and think about the competition.
"I feel very comfortable here, it's like a big family, like I had in Milan. I will always be grateful to Milan … but now I want to give everything for PSG. Donnarumma made over 250 appearances for Milan after breaking into the team as a 16-year-old. In two weeks' time, the 24-year-old goalkeeper will play against the opposition for the first time at the San Siro. He will receive a hostile reception. Milan fans were unhappy that Donnarumma had left the club and he was booed by a section of the crowd when he played for Italy against Ukraine at the San Siro in September. UCL Preview: PSG vs. AC Milan - Team news, opposition insight, stats and more.AC Milan travel to the French capital to face Paris Saint-Germain in the third match of their Champions League group stage campaign on Wednesday night. For Milan, the task is simple: try to get their first win in Europe in 2023-24 and bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Juventus on Sunday, but that's a lot easier said than done against a PSG side brimming with talent. Stefano Pioli said in his pre-match press conference that he knows the hosts are playing as a unit despite their abundance of attacking talent, but it is dangerous to sit back and wait. As indicated, Milan are coming off the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Juventus, which was marred by a first-half red card for Malik Thiew.
Pioli had to contend with eight absentees for the match against the Bianconeri and is sure to return on at least two positive notes on the trip to France. Mike Mignon and Theo Hernandez, who were out at the weekend due to suspension, will return to the squad after their bans, with both Frenchmen keen to make an impression on home soil. Rade Krunik and Pierre Kalulu have recovered after the break, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is not 100% and has not been called up after individual training all week. Lofts-Cheek, Ishmael Benzer and Mattiyadi Kalla returned from international duty, respectively to Nigeria. Before David Bertesaghi was not called up with an ankle injury, meaning his availability is in doubt, but he went with the team. Along with Theo and Maignan, Fikayo Tomori and Malik Thiau are likely to complete the rearguard with Pierre Kalulu on the right, who has more pace and physicality to accommodate Mbappe. Tijjani Reynders and Younes Musa are expected to retain their places in midfield, with Rade Krunic ahead of Yassin Adli. The attacking trident will consist of Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leo.
Last season was a familiar one for PSG as they managed to claim domestic honors by winning Ligue 1 and the Trophy des Champions, but they fell short of their ultimate goal, which was European glory, losing 3-0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. Champions League last 16. As a result, many changes took place. This is the first season without Neymar since Lionel Messi went to the US and 2016-17 to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal - without Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, who went to Qatari club Al after 2011-12. Arabic sc. Luis Enrique has been appointed head coach and if you're not familiar with his style of football, expect a high line, lots of possession and rapid circulation of the ball, an article we recently published went into more depth. .
In terms of transfer business, there was a clear aim to try and acquire a young and deep squad.
Randall Kolo Muani, Bradley Barkola, Ousmane Dembele and Gonzalo Ramos arrived to fill the attack. Marco Asensio, Manuel Urgarte and Lee Kang-in joined the midfield, while Lucas Hernandez and Milan Skriniar came up big in defence. As well as Neymar and Verratti, there were also many exits such as Julian Draxler, Abdou Diallo, El Chadaele Bitciabu, Georginio Wijnaldum, Mauro Icardi and Leandro Paredes. PSG have 18 points from nine league games so far with five wins, three draws and one loss, but they currently sit behind Monaco and OGC Nice in the table. They suffered a defeat at home against Nice and in their most recent match they won 3-0 against Strasbourg thanks to goals from Mbappe and Ramos. The Parisians won 2-0 at home to Dortmund in their first group game in the Champions League, but then a counter-attacking masterclass from Eddie Howe's side thrashed Newcastle 4-1.