Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) emerged victorious in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League tie against Real Sociedad, with second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Bradley Barcola securing a hard-fought 2-0 win at the Parc des Princes.
Real Sociedad, who remained unbeaten in this year’s competition after topping Group D, started the match strong and looked to be the better side in the first half. However, PSG took control of the game in the second half, turning the tables on their opponents.
Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a stunning volley, capitalizing on Marquinhos’ corner. This goal marked a significant milestone for the French forward, as he became the first player to score in 10 consecutive home games in the Champions League.
With the lead in their hands, PSG continued to dominate and extend their advantage in the 70th minute. Barcola showcased his individual brilliance, dribbling through from the halfway line and calmly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Álex Remiro.
The halftime break proved crucial for PSG as they regrouped and received guidance from their coach, Luis Enrique. Captain Marquinhos highlighted the impact of their halftime discussion, stating that the coach “pulled our strings” and expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance in the first half.
Enrique’s frank and honest approach resonated with the players, leading to a significant improvement in their attitude and performance in the second half. He provided them with valuable advice, which proved effective in turning the tide of the game in PSG’s favor.
Reflecting on the turnaround, Marquinhos emphasized the importance of the team’s resilience and the coach’s ability to deliver the truth to the players. This open and honest communication played a vital role in achieving their objective of securing a victory at home.
Despite PSG’s second-half dominance, Real Sociedad had their chances to make an impact in the game. Captain Mikel Merino came agonizingly close to opening the scoring just before halftime with a thunderous strike that rattled the crossbar.
The visitors, however, found themselves momentarily down to 10 men during the build-up to Mbappé’s goal, as defender Hamari Traoré received medical treatment on the sidelines. Taking advantage of the numerical advantage, Mbappé unleashed a strike into the top corner, igniting fervent celebrations among the Parc des Princes crowd.
Real Sociedad’s inability to capitalize on their early dominance and convert their chances into goals ultimately cost them dearly. PSG’s solid defensive display, coupled with the brilliance of their goalkeeper Remiro, denied Sociedad any opportunity to recover in the match.
With a comfortable two-goal lead heading into the return leg, PSG remains confident but cautious. Mbappé acknowledged the importance of the clean sheet, which had eluded them in the Champions League thus far, while acknowledging Sociedad’s recent scoring struggles.
The French forward expressed his belief that the return leg would be more open, with Sociedad adopting a more attacking approach and affording PSG more space to exploit. Looking ahead, he remained optimistic about PSG’s chances to score on the counter-attack if they are able to capitalize on the available space.
As the first leg concludes, Real Sociedad faces an uphill battle to overcome the two-goal deficit when they host PSG in Spain on March 5. The pressure is on Sociedad to regroup, assess their shortcomings, and come up with a strategic plan to turn the tie in their favor. Meanwhile, PSG will look to build upon their first-leg success and secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Leave a Reply