Milan picks up valuable points over PSG in Champions League

IT'S OVER! Milan pulls off an invaluable win against PSG to climb back into the race for the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. PSG falls to second in the group despite an early goal from Milan Skriniar.

Goals from Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud give Milan a massive boost ahead of games against Dortmund at home and Newcastle in England.

American fans cover their eyes in horror. Christian Pulisic has gone down with an injury, and he is grabbing for his left hamstring. The hope is that it is just a cramp and he is trying to drain the clock.

However, the USMNT has CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers in less than 10 days with a chance to reach the Copa America in 2024.

Sensational footwork from Lee Kang-in on the right side leads to a low shot to Maignan's left-hand side. The ball hits the outside of the post and goes out for a goal kick. Yet, it is the closest PSG has come in the second half.

Just seconds after coming on, Noah Okafor has a shot tremendously saved down low by Donnarumma. On the ensuing corner, Okafor's shot rises over the crossbar. An instant impact from the substitute as Milan holds on to its lead.

With just over five minutes left in the 90, Milan is adding to reinforcements at the back. Rafael Leao and Yunus Musah come out, and Noah Okafor and Rade Krunic come on.

The roles have flipped since the first half. PSG is dominating possession, and Milan is hitting PSG on the counter.

Rafael Leao forces a foul from Milan Skriniar and a yellow card, which takes some of the pressure off the Milan defense. 

There has been a noticeable change in Milan's tactics here in the closing stages of the game. The Italian side is sitting back and welcoming back the pressure from PSG. The Ligue 1 outfit as creative players on the field, and Kylian Mbappe already tested Mike Maignan. 

For now, Milan is holding firm.

A silly challenge from the American to slow down the PSG game will cost him and his team more than a yellow card. Due to accumulation, Musah will miss Milan's next UEFA Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.

The PSG shot-stopper has been busy tonight in his much-anticipated return to the San Siro. Theo Hernandez fires a free kick from 26 yards away that has the Italian at full stretch to parry it wide of his net and force a corner.

Looking to draw level in the game, PSG has made a trio of substitutions and a slight formation change. Lee Kang-in, Fabian Ruiz and Goncalo Ramos replace Vitinha, Manuel Ugarte and Randal Kolo Muani respectively.

Milan has already started sitting back to protect its narrow lead.

A TOWERING header from Olivier Giroud to give Milan the lead! It is Theo Hernandez to pick up the loose ball after a Milan cross and whip it back into the box. With Leao on the ground from the previous pass, Giroud is alone as he rises above the PSG defense to power the ball into the net.

Milan leads, 2-1.

Reijnders goes on a small dribble and eventually lobs a shot just wide of the PSG net. To start the half, PSG had some attempts, but slick feet from Rafael Leao cleared out the pressure.

Much of the halftime talk centered around how well Milan would be able to keep up with these rapid PSG counter attacks. Milan held most of the ball in the first half, but PSG can take advantage of Milan inching forward to contain possession with players like Kolo Muani, Dembele and Mbappe on the break.

An exciting first half comes to a close. Skriniar and Leao have the goals for their clubs. Milan has been pushing for a second, and it has tested Donnarumma on several occasions.

All the while, PSG looks dangerous on the counter-attack with Mbappe and Dembele having great chances in the first 45 minutes.

The midfield trio of Loftus-Cheek, Musah and Reijnders is making all the difference in this game. Upon stripping PSG of the ball again, Christian Pulisic fields a ball over the top. Yet, he cannot settle it completely, and his shot finds the outside netting of the PSG net.

Two spells going forward looked promising for Milan. On one occasion, Pulisic played in for Leao, who was dispossessed by the PSG defense. Just moments later, Leao fired a shot toward Donnarumma, but the ball rolled by the outside of the post.

Fikayo Tomori forces a diving save from Donnarumma on a free kick from 25 yards away. A comfortable save, but another shot on goal for Milan already.

For the first time in this game, one team has hit the woodwork. Ousmane Dembele has the ball on the edge of the box. He takes a touch onto his left foot and curls it toward the top-left corner. The ball slams off the woodwork and goes away.

On the ensuing counter-attack, Olivier Giroud stings the outside of the post after Ruben Loftus-Cheek carried the ball forward. Milan has now had three real chances in addition to its goal, and PSG is also looking dangerous to score.

Kylian Mbappe has a chance to score. He attempts a nonchalant flick over Maignan, but the ball spurs out wide. Anything on target there likely provides PSG a lead.

After that breathless start, the game between AC Milan and PSG is settling down. Milan is controlling the ball in the PSG half. However, the visitors always look dangerous on the counter-attack.

Both sides are trading punches with each having scored a goal. Kylian Mbappe forces Mike Maignan to step up to stop a breakaway. Then, Milan marches right down the field and forces a corner. Milan now setting up for a free kick seven yards outside the PSG box.

And there is the response from Milan! A brilliant run from Rafael Leao down the middle allows the Portuguese to play in Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman forces a save out of Donnarumme. When the rebound floats into the air, Leao uses an overhead kick to force the ball into the back of the net.

1-1 at the San Siro!

It is another wasted opportunity for Milan! Calabria forays forward to center a ball from the right-hand side. Yunus Musah pounds the ball straight to Donnarumma.

It's the opener from the former Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar! PSG has a corner that Marquinhos meets up high. Awaiting on the back post alone, Skriniar gets a head on the ball to guide it into Mike Maignan's net. It is his first club goal since January 2022. At the time, he represented Inter Milan.

After a spell of possession from PSG, Milan has the best chance of this young game. Rafael Leao skins a defender before passing the ball into the penalty box. Ruben Loftus-Cheek takes it on first time with his weaker left foot. The ball rises up and over Donnarumma's crossbar, but it was a major chance for the hosts.

After five minutes, PSG has already had a few strong attempts going forward. Some sloppy play from AC Milan has left the midfield exposed, and Kylian Mbappe is enjoying himself early.

The ball is rolling between PSG and AC Milan. The hosts are sporting their traditional red and black kit, while PSG rock the away white shirts. The pressure is on AC Milan to get a result and keep its UEFA Champions League hopes alive.

The Italian crowd in attendance at the San Siro is making its voice heard. A raucous crows is drowning out the UEFA Champions League anthem while fans wave flags in the stands. They are all ready for a major game tonight.

Kickoff is nearing from the San Siro. Players have already wrapped up their warm-up session. As expected, Gianluigi Donnarumma met boos and whistles from the faithful at the San Siro when he emerged on the pitch for his session.

Two clubs of this stature are sure to create a spectacle. Thierry Henry is away from the CBS desk, and he is in Milan along with David Beckham taking in the sights.

On the road against Milan, PSG is putting out a strong starting XI:

• GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma
• RB: Achraf Hakimi
• CB: Maruinhos
• CB: Milan Škriniar
• LB: Lucas Hernandez
• CDM: Manuel Ugarte
• RCM: Vitinha
• LCM: Warren Zaire-Emery
• RW: Ousmane Dembele
• ST: Randal Kolo Muani
• LW: Kylian Mbappe

The starting XI AC Milan is now available. Milan is playing a 4-3-3:

• GK: Mike Maignan
• RB: Davide Calabria
• CB: Malick Thiaw
• CB: Fikayo Tomori
• LB: Theo Hernandez
• CDM: Tijjani Reijnders
• RCM: Yunus Musah
• LCM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
• RW: Christian Pulisic
• ST: Olivier Giroud
• LW: Rafael Leao

We have a major clash on hand today, as Milan welcomes PSG to the San Siro. These two teams met in matchday three of the UEFA Champions League. Milan succumbed to the talent and speed of PSG as the French side won 3-0 in Paris. PSG is atop Group F, while Milan is at the bottom.

Elsewhere in the group, Borussia Dortmund leads Newcastle at halftime, 1-0.