Paris Saint-Germain’s relentless pursuit of their maiden UEFA Champions League title experienced a significant setback with their aspirations for the title after a defeat to seven-time UCL champions, AC Milan.
After Slovenian defender Milan Skriniar opened the score just nine minutes into the game, the Paris club, who had easily defeated Stefano Pioli’s squad 3-0 in the rematch, were set to win both games.
But Rafael Leao, a Portuguese attacker, tied the score with an incredible overhead kick.
According to reports, French forward Olivier Giroud secured the victory for Milan with a well-executed header in the 50th minute.
This defeat marked PSG’s second in four games, pushing them down to second place in the group standings behind Borussia Dortmund.
The upcoming fixtures pose a challenging road for the Parisians, as they are set to face Newcastle United, who previously defeated them 4-0, and the formidable Dortmund.
Despite the club’s substantial summer signings, PSG struggles to establish dominance in the group, prompting inquiries for Kylian Mbappe about whether the UEFA Champions League is beyond reach for the French champions.
The 24-year-old forward, who serves as PSG’s face, gave a response to a question on the team’s prospects of winning the UCL that raised even more concerns.
According to the PSG Report, Mbappe said: “The first objective is to win the next match against Newcastle. This is the most important at this moment in time.”
Mbappe’s remark is thought to be a reflection of the players’ growing pessimism about their chances of winning the UCL this season at the French club.
The 2020 final, when PSG’s lackluster effort against Bayern Munich resulted in a loss, was their finest UCL performance to date.
Securing a spot in the next round proves to be a formidable challenge for PSG, particularly given the pivotal nature of their upcoming encounter with Eddie Howe’s team. A loss for either side in this crucial match would shatter their title aspirations for the season.