PSG see off Real Sociedad to ease into quarters

Paris Saint-Germain any sort of ‘remontada’ this time around as they cruised into the quarter-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Real Sociedad. 

LINEUPS

RSO XI: Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Galan; Zubimendi, Merino; Oyarzabal*, Mendez, Kubo; Becker

RSO SUBS: Marrero, Magunacelaya, Mejias, Marin, Gonzalez, Barrenetxea, Tierney, Pacheco, Turrientes, Silva, Sadiq, Olasagasti

PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Barcola, Mbappe*, Dembele

PSG SUBS: Navas, Tenas, Marquinhos, Mukiele, Danilo Pereira, Soler, Lee, Ugarte, Kolo Muani, Ramos

Action: Given their history in this competition, there was a concern that Paris Saint-Germain would come under significant pressure in the Basque Country.

However, Luis Enrique’s side started well with Bradley Barcola going close early on, just failing to sort his feet out after a burst of pace from Kylian Mbappe down the left and then a cross from the Frenchman.

Mbappe, captain on the evening after being substituted in each of PSG’s last two matches which were draws against Rennes and Monaco, then put the Parisiens ahead. Ousmane Dembele sent him into a similar area in the left channel and he stood his defender up, made himself half a yard and then with power and composure in equal measure fired across goal to make it 3-0 on aggregate.

𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐊𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄 ⚡️

The forward makes it 4⃣5⃣ goals and 2⃣6⃣ assists in just 68 #UCL games! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6KwgLpU9Mb

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2024

The likes of Sheraldo Becker and Takefusa Kubo had moments of possession in good areas as they attempted to drag La Real back into the game but PSG were comfortable as they went into the break.

It was a fairly even and uneventful second-half but PSG’s talisman did help himself to another goal in the 56th minute to seal victory for Luis Enrique.

Some good combination play from Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha allowed Vitinha to float a ball in behind for Mbappe to run in on goal and fire low and hard into the near post past Alex Remiro. 

Real Sociedad did continue to work hard and press with chances for Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal before former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino did eventually get a goal for Imanol Aguacil’s side, eventually, after a long and unnecessary VAR check. 

The big picture: Real Sociedad will now have to focus on La Liga after being eliminated from the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League in the space of a week. Their form has drifted and they are in danger of slipping outside of the top seven. PSG have been in shaky form of late domestically but they will be pleased to have reached April still in Europe’s elite club competition as that is not necessarily something they are used to doing.

Man of the match: Kylian Mbappe. It is fairly obvious but it has to be that the France captain was the most influential player in the match at the Anoeta. 

EVENTS

Kick-off

’15 | GOAL: Mbappe (0-1)

Half-time

’56 | GOAL: Mbappe (0-2)

’89 | GOAL: Merino (1-2)

Full-time