AC Milan 2-1 PSG: What Were The Key Talking Points As The Rossoneri Mount A Crucial Champions League Comeback At The San Siro?

Facing what was a must-win Champions League showdown on Tuesday night, AC Milan mounted a stunning comeback at the San Siro as they secured a 2-1 victory against PSG.

Hit with a routine 3-0 drumming when they travelled to the French capital for their reverse meeting a fortnight ago, it appeared that the Rossoneri were destined for another frustrating night as former defender Milan Skriniar opened the scoring after just nine minutes.

However, with their knockout stage dreams firmly on the line here, Stefano Pioli’s side mounted a famous fightback as attacking talisman Rafael Leao notched his first strike since September just three minutes later.

Putting in what was a hugely impressive performance on either side of the half-time break, it was eventually ex-Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud who proved to be the match-winner as the French international powered home minutes after the restart.

Although it will certainly be AC that steals all of Tuesday’s headlines, PSG will be bracing themselves for another stern European backlash following an infamous collapse outside of Paris.

Dethroned at the top of the Group F standings by German giants Borussia Dortmund following their 2-0 win against Newcastle earlier in the day, the Blues are destined for what is going to be a nervy final two showdowns.

With just three points separating BVB and Newcastle at opposite ends of the Group F table, we have taken a look at the key talking points from Tuesday’s battle in Milan.

Milan keep their knockout dreams alive

While AC Milan might have certainly come flying out of the traps when opening up the 2023/24 campaign, Pioli’s side entered Tuesday’s must-win battle in the midst of a recent rut.

Without a win from any of their last four appearances across all competitions and blown away thanks to their 3-0 drumming in Paris a fortnight ago, it appeared there could have been some fingers pointed in Pioli’s direction.

However, although the Italian heavyweights might have failed to notch a single Champions League strike from their opening three contests, they certainly showed their mental resolve here.

Gaining a string of plaudits last season as they reached the Champions League semi-finals, AC will know that nothing short of three points would have been good enough on Tuesday night.

Clearly overjoyed at the final whistle and now sat just a single point adrift of breaking into the top-two heading into their final two Group F appearances, Milan will now be dreaming of the chance to mount another famous European charge this year.

PSG teetering on another European crisis

Producing a stellar Champions League performance in the French capital a fortnight ago, PSG had certainly handed themselves a major platform to build on.

However, while Luis Enrique’s side might have arrived in Milan confident of taking a giant step towards punching their knockout stage ticket, the former Barcelona boss saw his superstar squad suffer an infamous European collapse on foreign soil.

Despite taking an early lead after just nine minutes as Skriniar powered home against his former employers, PSG eventually missed out on what was a golden opportunity.

Although the French icons might find themselves tipped as a landslide contender to make more Ligue 1 history this season, Enrique knows that Champions League success must be at the very top of his agenda.

With PSG still looking to put a maiden European trophy in their cabinet, Tuesday’s guests now appear destined to go down to the wire in their bid to claw a route out of Group F this year.

Leao finds his best at a crucial time

Opening Tuesday’s crucial showdown at the San Siro by failing to find the net in three of their previous four appearances, Milan’s attacking talisman has certainly come under some recent scrutiny.

While Leao might have gained a string of plaudits last season as the 24-year-old was crowned Serie A Player of the Year, it is fair to say that the Portuguese ace has struggled to find a similar level this time around.

Without a single goal in any of his last 10 appearances for club and country heading into Tuesday’s contest, Leao had an increasing amount of pressure on his young shoulders.

Nevertheless, producing a stunning acrobatic effort to drag Milan level and registering a first goal since back on September 23rd, the 23-cap international underlined his importance to Pioli’s squad.

With the Rossoneri keeping their Champions League dreams alive here, Leao will certainly have a crucial role to play over the next month.

Match Report

AC Milan: Maignan, Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, T. Hernandez, Reijnders, Musah, Leao, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Giroud

Subs: Krunic, Okafor, Florenzi

PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, L. Hernandez, Vitinha, Ugarte, Zaire-Emery, Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe

Subs: Ruiz, Ramos, Kang-in, Barcola, Mukiele

Goals: AC Milan: Leao (12’), Giroud (50’) – PSG: Skriniar (9’)

Yellow Cards: AC Milan: Musah – PSG: Kolo Manie, Ugarte, Vitinha, Skriniar, L. Hernandez

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano