PSG 2-0 Real Sociedad: Kylian Mbappe delivers once again as the French superstar gambles at the far post to score his 44th Champions League goal to give the Parisians the lead heading into the second leg
- Kylian Mbappe put in another performance to help PSG beat Real Sociedad 2-0
- Bradley Barcola stepped up and scored his first Champions League goal
- Declan Rice showed his class after scoring against West Ham, the fans who booed him are MORONS – Listen to the It all starts podcast
There was some relief around the home faithful at the Parc Des Princes on Wednesday evening after Kylian Mbappe made the breakthrough.
After a cagey first half in which Real Sociedad largely kept the French giants at bay, tensions rose as the Parisians looked to take control in their Champions League last-16 tie.
But big players step up in big moments, right? And tonight it was the 25-year-old World Cup winner, who once again delivered for the Ligue 1 team, arriving at the far post to break the deadlock and inspire Luis Enrique’s side to a 2-0 victory.
That came in the 58th minute of the match, when Ousemane Dembele whipped a corner into Sociedad’s penalty area. Amid a mix of bodies, the ball appeared to bounce off Marquinhos’ back and roll towards the back post. Mbappe was the first to react, stretching forward to beam the ball past Alex Remiro and into the net.
It was his 44th goal in the Champions League, and while it won’t go down as perhaps his best, it was an important one. PSG looked better and put the visitors under pressure in the second half.
It could also have been his second, with Mbappe having gone close in the first half, bursting into the penalty area after producing one of his trademark solo runs before firing a low shot towards goal. Remiro had blocked it to deny the attacker.
Sociedad had several chances, of which Takefusa Kubo’s shot, which narrowly missed the right post, was perhaps the most striking.
But PSG’s reaction to Mbappe’s goal was indicative of its significance. They grew in stature and created more space, turning into a different animal.
Bradley Barcola doubled the lead with an excellent finish, pushing his way past several defenders and scoring his first Champions League goal, tapping the ball past Remiro and into the net.
As rumors grow surrounding Mbappe’s possible move to Real Madrid, he continues to play a vital role within PSG, and tonight he delivered once again.
Having joined the club in 2017, initially on loan from Monaco, there is perhaps no better way to end his time with the French team than by winning the Champions League.
But Sociedad presented a very difficult opponent for the Ligue 1 club. PSG will need to improve their performances when they head to the Reale Arena on March 5 if they hope to progress to the quarter-finals.
More to follow…