In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Real Sociedad 2-0 thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola.
Despite losing important players due to injuries, Sociedad controlled the game for extended periods of time until Mbappe’s goal in the 58th minute.
The game-winning goal was scored after Marquinhos headed in an Ousmane Dembele corner from the right, leaving Mbappe unmarked to volley in from the back post. A few minutes later, goalie Alex Remiro deflected his effort from the edge of the penalty area onto the crossbar.
However, in the 70th minute, Barcola’s lightning-fast break down the left, easy slide past right-back Hamari Traore, and poked the ball in gave Remiro his second defeat, causing coach Luis Enrique to leap off the bench in celebration.
The fact that Mbappe played the entire match was also a comfort, considering he had been sidelined for Saturday’s Ligue 1 match due to a sore left ankle. However, he appeared unaffected when he grabbed Dembele’s pass and forced a save in the sixth minute.
Nevertheless, PSG’s intensity abruptly decreased after that opportunity.
Coach Imanol Alguacil of Sociedad was without left-back Kieran Tierney and goalscoring midfielder Mikel Oyarzabal, but the team’s high pressing pressure was organised and intense enough to force PSG back at a quiet Parc des Princes.
Just before halftime, Mikel Merino, the captain, hit the crossbar with an incredible dipping effort from 25 yards out after Andre Silva had glancingly missed with a header.
With his goal, Mbappe relieved pressure on his teammates, giving summer signing Barcola, 21, greater leeway to attack. Barcola is a summer acquisition from Lyon.
On March 5, the second leg will take place at Reale Seguros Stadium.
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