On a cool fall evening, the floodlit Parc des Princes served as the backdrop for an incredible display of football as Paris Saint Germain (PSG) bested AC Milan 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League showdown. The vibrant PSG side dashed AC Milan’s hopes with a flawless show, displaying a perfect blend of coordinated offense and an impregnable defense.
PSG Shatters AC Milan
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoreboard for PSG in the 32nd minute, assisted by Warren Zaïre-Emery, sending the boisterous home crowd into raptures. The first half set the tempo of the game, tainted only by several yellow cards. AC Milan had two of its players – Malick Thiaw and Rade Krunić – booked, while PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembélé were also shown yellow cards. An otherwise goal by Ousmane Dembélé was also cancelled by the VAR in the 49th minute.
📌 The medical update before #PSGASM.@Aspetar
🔗 https://t.co/b9uy26lcUY pic.twitter.com/56pHizObL0
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 23, 2023
Rookies Steal the Spotlight
Despite the setback, PSG continued with their aggressive tactics, leaving AC Milan struggling. The 53rd minute saw an unanticipated moment – R. Kolo Muani, who marked his first goal of the season for PSG, shifting the match firmly in PSG’s favour. The dewy-eyed youngster’s jubilation was, however, short-lived as he was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos in the 82nd minute. The undeniable highlight of the match was the 89th-minute goal from fresh substitute Lee Kang-In who delivered within 18 minutes of coming on the pitch- a first not just for the season but his maiden goal in the UEFA Champions League.
New Faces, Same Rivalry
The match also marked a nostalgic return for AC Milan’s Mike Peterson Maignan and Alessandro Florenzi, both former PSG players. Despite their familiarity with the home ground, their attempts at keeping their former team at bay proved futile. With AC Milan pushing their defenses to the limit, and changing formations in a bid to curtail PSG, the home team’s offense proved too strong to resist. PSG’s command of the match was evident in the stats summary, as they dominated ball possession at 62% and registered stronger shots on goal.
Final Whistle and Frenzied Fans
The final whistle sealed PSG’s triumphant 3-0 victory over AC Milan, with their fans celebrating throughout the night. The players’ youthful exuberance coupled with the cohesive team strategies orchestrated by Head Coaches Luis Enrique and S. Pioli rekindled the fiery Paris-Milan rivalry, reminding fans mere miles and leagues can’t dilute the competitiveness of this beautiful game.
