Tuesday evening’s enticing Champions League Group F clash between AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain at the San Siro always felt like it could turn into quite a dramatic and tasty affair and for most watching on in the wider world of football, it certainly did not become a disappointment.
Group F has so far seen some interesting battles as sides look to qualify through to the next stage, but going into this tie in particular, few doubted that if AC Milan continued to harbour hopes of progressing through to the latter stages of this year’s tournament, that they simply had to pick something up from the game, so taking a 2-1 win and actually taking their first Champions League three points of the season will be absolutely massive for the Italian side moving forward.
Although PSG opened the scoring nine minutes into the game, Marquinhos flicked the ball on and found Milan Skriniar at the far post who duly headed in to give them the advantage, it did not take the hosts long at all to restore parity in the match.
In the 12th minute, Olivier Giroud saw his initial shot parried by the goalkeeper, but Rafael Leao reacted quickest with an impressive overhead kick to score. Although that was where the goals ended for the first half, AC came out strongly in the second period and five minutes after the restart, Theo Hernandez sent in a good cross, and Giroud duly had his own goal as he hit the winner with a thumping trademark header.
Borussia Dortmund lead the group with seven points given their victory over Newcastle United, PSG sit in second spot on six, but Milan up their points to five in third spot. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle take fourth, but are also only a point behind AC, and with the group that tight, it is still very much all to play for with an eye to the knockout stages, and having reached the semi finals last year, a much improved Milan will be pleased to have kept their own hopes alive.
With goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma returning to his former club, he was roundly booed by the home fans, and some sections even went as far as throwing fake money in his direction as he made his first PSG visit following what was a very acrimonious departure two years ago.
Another positive result for the team when they host Dortmund later in the month, could well throw the group on its head.
