Kylian Mbappe Scores As PSG Take Control Of Real Sociedad Champions League Tie
Kylian Mbappe scored the first goal as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Real Sociedad 2-0 in the first leg of their last-16 meeting on Wednesday, moving them closer to the Champions League quarterfinals. PSG’s fans may have been afraid of yet another lethargic Champions League knockout round result after the team’s lacklustre first-half display at the Parc des Princes. Just before the hour, however, Mbappe—whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season—broke the deadlock with a close-range shot.
After that, Bradley Barcola’s well-taken goal in the 70th minute made it 2-0, giving the French champs a comfortable lead that they will carry into their rematch early the following month in Spain.
“We were able to score at crucial times. With this initial stage, we are satisfied. Mbappe said to broadcaster Canal Plus, “There is still a lot of work to be done, but it is good to be going there with the advantage.”
“We were in great difficulty in the first half, but we knew that would be the case,” Captain Marquinhos continued.
“We had a much better mentality in the second half, so I believe the coach’s earbashing at halftime was helpful.
“We are aware of how crucial a home victory is, but the game is not yet over. Between now and then, we must maintain the same frame of mind, continue to perform well in the league, and then go there and perform well to guarantee our qualification.”
PSG entered this match under a lot of pressure because, over the previous seven seasons, they had lost in the Champions League’s round of sixteen five times.
Another early exit this season would be a monumental setback for the Qatar-owned club, especially as Real Sociedad were appearing in their first Champions League knockout tie in two decades.
They failed to win any of their previous four games across all competitions and failed to score a goal before travelling to Paris.
They were also without Mikel Oyarzabal, their captain and leading scorer, while he recovers from an injury.
PSG, who gave 20-year-old Brazilian January acquisition Lucas Beraldo his Champions League debut at left-back, were looking to extend a run of 16 games without a loss in all competitions dating back to early November.
– Distant side threat
But in a dismal first half performance, Mbappe’s early attempt, which the visiting custodian Alex Remiro tipped away, was essentially the only opportunity they had to threaten.
Rather, the visitors, who emerged victorious from their group before Inter Milan, appeared more at ease and had the best chance of scoring before halftime.
Captain Mikel Merino controlled the ball and then sent a piledriver from 25 metres off the top of the bar and over in the last minute of the half.
After 58 minutes, PSG finally broke the deadlock when Mbappe headed in Ousmane Dembele’s right-wing corner after Marquinhos assisted him.
For the France captain, who is most likely to join Real Madrid at the end of this season, it was his fourth goal in the Champions League and his 31st goal overall for the season.
This calmed the home team, and in the sixty-third minute, Mbappe came dangerously close to scoring again when he won the ball back high up the pitch and curled a hard effort from outside the box that Remiro pushed over the bar.
Twenty minutes from the end, Luis Enrique’s team did found the back of the net once more when Barcola received a ball on the left, dribbled past Hamari Traore as he entered the area, and then tucked the ball past Remiro for his first-ever Champions League goal.
La Real’s goalless streak grew to five games as they were unable to get back into the contest.
They now have a bit of a mountain to climb when they play PSG in San Sebastian on March 5, though French fans will still be cautious because of how the team has crumbled in previous years against teams like Barcelona and Madrid.