AC Milan – Paris SG : Preview & Prediction
An encouraging start to the 2023/24 season quickly turned sour for AC Milan after a winless run of four official matches in which they failed to score on three occasions (E1, P3), a stretch that leaves coach Stefano Pioli under severe pressure. Their UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign is now on the line, as after failing to find the back of the net in their first three games (E2, P1), the “Rossoneri” occupy last place in Group F.
Confidence seems to be at an all-time low ahead of the visit of Paris Saint-Germain, a daunting opponent for Milan after the Italian giants lost 3-0 in the French capital. A repeat of that dismal performance could leave Pioli’s side adrift, however, despite winning just seven of their last 28 matches in the competition (E9, P12), Milan can at least rely on their very solid home record against French opposition (G8, E3, P2).
PSG’s season has followed an opposite trajectory to that of their hosts, recovering from a poor start to reassert their dominance in domestic affairs. A run of five consecutive wins in all competitions for the first time in 2023 has Luis Enrique’s men feeling good, and the latest victory in that sequence was a routine 3-0 win over Montpellier last Friday night, giving the Parisians an extra 24 hours to rest up for this clash.
They will take every advantage they can get at this point, given that they have won just two of their last ten UCL away games (E3, P5) and have beaten Milan just once in five previous clashes (E2, P2). However, Italy has been a happy destination of late for PSG, winning four consecutive matches against Serie A teams, while their last such defeat was against Palermo back in 1997 (G4, E6).
Players to watch: Milan striker Olivier Giroud has seen five of his six goals this season come before the break, while scoring four times and suffering just two defeats in eight personal meetings against PSG (G1, E5). Brazilian international Marquinhos will have the task of stopping him – PSG have lost just once this season in their 12 starts (G8, E3), although that was in their previous away game in the UCL (4-1 vs. Newcastle).
Key stat: PSG have scored exactly three goals in each of their last five games.
AC Milan – Paris SG : Betting Tips
Paris SG – Win Odds: 2.25
