Paris St Germain’s Champions League games against AC Milan are vital to their bid to qualify from a difficult group, coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday ahead of the clash at Parc des Princes.
PSG are second in Group F following a shock 1-4 defeat at Newcastle United this month and take on seven-time winners Milan home and away in their next two matches in the competition.
The French club with three points are behind Newcastle on four but are a point ahead of Milan. Borussia Dortmund have one point.
“These are vital games (against Milan) considering the circumstances of the last two rounds but we’re concentrating on each game,” Enrique told reporters.
“The real value of AC Milan is that it’s a great team that has always played in the major competitions.
“Every club in the world has its ups and downs but AC Milan are doing well at the moment. That’s why this is the ‘Group of Death’. All four teams can go through.”
Asked how PSG would approach Wednesday’s game, Enrique said: “Attack as always, we’re a team that has always attacked.”
On Wednesday both goalkeepers will be pitted against their former teams, with Mike Maignan, 28, facing PSG and Gianluigi Donnarumma coming up against Milan after leaving on a free transfer in 2021.
Donnarumma has been criticised by Milan’s fans since his departure but the 24-year-old said he had tried to block it out, adding: “It’s important for me to have a good relationship because I always gave my all right till my last match.”
Barca’s injury woes
Barcelona are ready to take on Shakhtar Donetsk in Group C at home. They will be eager to make it three wins in three matches in Europe to take a big step towards qualifying for the knockout phase of the competition.
Manager Xavi Hernandez said: “For us, it is a vital match, transcendent for the possible qualification to the round of 16.”
Barcelona will be without as many as six players for the game on Wednesday with Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, and Sergi Roberto all being unavailable.
“The injured players are not at 100 per cent and that’s why they are not on the list. I’m still optimistic that some of them will make it to the Clásico,” Hernandez said.
“It’s not ideal, but it’s what it is.”
Written with inputs from Reuters