In one of the most anticipated clashes of the third matchday in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain hosted Milan at Le Parc des Princes. Sadly for the Rossoneri, they were second-best all evening as their French opponents emerged victorious with three unanswered goals courtesy of Kylian Mbappé, Kolo Muani and Kang-in Lee.
Starting Lineups
Luis Enrique started in a 4-3-3 formation with Gianluigi Donnarumma guarding the goal against his former employers. Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Milan Skriniar and Lucas Hernandez formed the PSG backline.
17-year-old sensation Warren Zaire-Emery joined Manuel Ugarte and Vitinha in the middle of the park, while the star-studded attack featured Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembélé and the club’s main talisman Mbappé.
For his part, Stefano Pioli also adopted a 4-3-3 formation, albeit less prestigious in personnel. Mike Maignan started in goal after mission out on the Juventus encounter. Pierre Kalalu got the nod at right-back alongside regular starters Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez.
Rade Krunic returned to the starting lineup, slotting in between Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah while Olivier spearheaded the lineup flanked by Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao.
Mbappé Threatens, Mbappé Scores
While the first half wasn’t the most exciting, Mbappé was the main protagonist as expected. The Frenchman came close on a couple of attempts that missed their target. Nevertheless, it was third time’s the charm for the World Cup top-scorer.
Zaire-Emery won his midfield duel against Reijnders who even tried to foul the teenager to halt his charge. Nevertheless, the Frenchman rode the challenge and found space in the final third before picking up Mbappé who relished his one-on-one duel against Tomori. The English defender failed to contain the striker who was able to send a cheeky shot towards goal, wrong-footing Maignan who remained stranded.
Thus, PSG headed to the break with a deserved lead at the expense of a toothless Milan side that failed to genuinely threaten Donnarumma.
PSG Double Their Lead
In the second half, the Italians took the field with every intention of forging an equalizer, but instead, it was the hosts who kept finding the back of the net.
Dembélé finished off a swift counterattack assisted by a series of blunders from Milan players. But the VAR intervened and the goal was disallowed for a foul from Ugarte on Musah.
Nevertheless, the French champions pulled off another goal, and this time, it stood. Maignan parried out a shot from Dembélé but failed to clear it properly, allowing Muani to pounce on the rebound and double his side’s lead with a poacher’s finish.
Lee Scores Third for PSG
Although Milan had their chances, they were too few and far between. Towards the end of the match, it became evidently clear that the home side had all three points in the bag. Yet, Enrique’s men kept pushing forward and eventually grabbed a third goal.
Substitute Kang-in Lee played a give-and-go with Zaire-Emery who cemented himself as the ultimate star of the show. The teenager found the South Korean with a clever pass and the latter’s first-time shot left Maignan stranded on his feet for the second time in the evening.
Complicate Situation for Milan
After three matchdays, Milan find themselves at the bottom of Group F following their defeat at the hands of PSG. The Rossoneri have only collected two points, but on a more alarming note, they’ve yet to score their maiden goal in the competition this season.
Pioli’s men now have a mountain to climb if they’re still hoping to replicate last season’s run in the knockout stages.
Psg-Milan 3-0 (1-0 first half)
Scorers : 32′ Mbappé (Psg), 52′ Kolo Muani (Psg), 88′ Lee (Psg)
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Ugarte (Ruiz), Vitinha; Dembele (Lee) Kolo Muani (Ramos) Mbappé. Coach Luis Enrique.
Bench: Lettelier, Tenas, Ruiz, Ramos, Danilo, Lee, Mukiele, Soler, Barcola.
MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Kalulu, Thiaw (Calabria), Tomori (Kjaer)Theo; Musah (Pobega) Krunic (Adli) Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao. Coach Pioli.
Bench: Nava, Mirante; Kjaer, Florenzi, Bartesaghi, Calabria, Adli, Pobega; Jovic, Chaka Traore
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