MX23RW : Sunday, December 22 09:30:46| >> :120:35835:35835:
[monks data]
Real Sociedad logo
Champions League | Round of 16 | 2nd Leg
Mar 5, 2024 at 8pm UK
Reale Arena
PSG logo

Real Sociedad
1 - 2
PSG

Merino (89')
Kubo (42'), Zubeldia (54')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Mbappe (15', 56')
Mendes (28'), Hakimi (42'), Dembele (45+4')

Kylian Mbappe brace helps Paris Saint-Germain cruise into Champions League quarter-finals

Mbappe brace helps PSG cruise into Champions League quarter-finals
© Reuters
Kylian Mbappe scores twice as Paris Saint-Germain advance to the Champions League quarter-finals courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate win over Real Sociedad.

Paris Saint-Germain have progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Real Sociedad 3-0 on aggregate in their last-16 tie.

The French giants followed up a 2-0 home victory in the first leg three weeks ago with a 2-1 success in the reverse fixture at the Reale Arena on Tuesday, courtesy of two goals from star man Kylian Mbappe.

PSG's No.7 opened the scoring with his 45th Champions League goal, becoming the second-youngest player (25 years and 76 days) to reach that landmark after Lionel Messi (24 years and 257 days).

Mbappe then scored his second, as well as his third of the two-legged tie, with another ruthless finish shortly before the hour mark to put Luis Enrique's side in complete control.

PSG had blown a first-leg lead in four of their previous nine Champions League knockout ties, but they made no mistake this time around, despite conceding a late goal scored by Mikel Merino, and demonstrated a professional display in San Sebastian to keep their hopes of winning an elusive Champions League trophy alive.

One of the main talking points prior to kickoff revolved around the involvement of Mbappe, who was substituted early in both of PSG's last two matches. However, the striker – who is set to leave the club at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract – was named in Enrique's first XI as the Spaniard made five changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Monaco in Ligue 1 last Friday.

Real Sociedad's Hamari Traore in action with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe on March 5, 2024© Reuters

It did not talk long for Mbappe to put his stamp on the contest, as he initially curled the game's first shot over the crossbar following a neat one-two with Fabian Ruiz on the edge of the area, before using his blistering pace to get to the byline and cut a cross back to Bradley Barcola, whose first-time effort in the six-yard box was saved by Alex Remiro from point-blank range.

Real Sociedad appeared to be puzzled by the hybrid central role taken by Ousmane Dembele in the opening exchanges as Mbappe drifted out onto the left flank, where he received the ball before netting a superb opener on the 15-minute mark.

PSG's all-time record goalscorer sprinted down the left channel inside the penalty box and cleverly turned his marker inside out before whipping a brilliant right-footed shot from a tight angle into the far corner.

The French giants almost doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark when Barcola capitalised on some slack Sociedad defending to burst down the right and set up Mbappe, but Remiro made an excellent save with his outstretched left boot to prevent the striker's snapshot creeping in at the near post.

PSG were in cruise control and had evidently learned lessons from the first leg, as their back four managed to outwit Sociedad's high press, while Enrique's new-look attacking system was causing all kinds of problems at the other end.

Sociedad struggled to create any clear-cut chances of their own in the first half, with their only notable effort on goal coming on the stroke of half time when Takefusa Kubo fizzed a powerful strike a few yards wide of the top corner.

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal with Lee Kang-in, Ousmane Dembele, Fabian Ruiz and teammates on March 5, 2024© Reuters

While Imanol Alguacil opted against making changes at half time, Enrique decided to swap Barcola with former Mallorca midfielder Lee Kang-in, who set up Mbappe to score his and PSG's second on the night just before the hour mark.

Mbappe latched onto a lofted through-ball from Lee and raced away from Sociedad's backline from the halfway line into the hosts' penalty box, before drifting inside and coolly slotting a clever finish past Remiro at the near post.

Sociedad thought that they had pulled one back in the 64th minute when substitute Ander Barrenetxea directed a downward header under Gianluigi Donnarumma, but their celebrations were cut short as the former was ruled offside following a VAR check.

Barrenetxea certainly made a difference for the hosts after coming off the bench and almost picked out Mikel Oyarzabal inside the six-yard area with a dangerous delivery across the face of goal, before Merino blasted a strike over the crossbar following a positive spell of possession.

Martin Zubimendi then fluffed his lines in front of goal as he placed an effort wide from around eight yards out, but he was given a second bite of the cherry just moments later, this time flicking a fierce volley towards Donnarumma who made himself big to make an excellent save.

Sociedad, who were roared on by a bouncing Reale Arena atmosphere throughout the contest, would not go down without a fight, and they eventually got their consolation goal in the 89th minute when Donnarumma pushed a powerful shot straight into the patch of Merino, who smashed home the rebound from close range.

PSG, who will discover their Champions League quarter-final opponents when the draw is made on March 15, return to Ligue 1 duty on Sunday when they welcome Reims to Parc des Princes, while Real Sociedad will look to return to winning ways when travel to Granada in La Liga on Saturday.

ID:538286:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8329:
Written by
Oliver Thomas
No Data Analysis info
Game History

How you voted: Real Sociedad vs PSG

Real Sociedad
14.4%
Draw
12.7%
Paris Saint-Germain
72.9%
362
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Kylian Mbappe before the match on February 17, 2024
Read Next:
Kylian Mbappe dropped by PSG after decision to leave
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Lions
@
Bears
6pm
Browns
@
Bengals
6pm
Patriots
@
Bills
6pm
Titans
@
Colts
6pm
Giants
@
Falcons
6pm
Rams
@
Jets
6pm
Cardinals
@
Panthers
6pm
Eagles
@
Washington
9.05pm
Vikings
@
Seahawks
9.25pm
49ers
@
Dolphins
9.25pm
Jags
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1AC Milan00000
2Arsenal00000
3Aston Villa00000
4Atalanta00000
5Atletico00000
6Barcelona00000
7B. Leverkusen00000
8Bayern00000
9Benfica00000
10Bologna00000
11Dortmund00000
12Brest00000
13Celtic00000
14Brugge00000
15Dinamo Zagreb00000
16Feyenoord00000
17Girona00000
18Inter Milan00000
19Juventus00000
20Lille00000
21Liverpool00000
22Man City00000
23Monaco00000
24PSV00000
25PSG00000
26RB Leipzig00000
27Real Madrid00000
28Salzburg00000
29Red Star00000
30Shakhtar00000
31Slovan Bratislava00000
32Sparta Prague00000
33Sporting Lisbon00000
34Sturm Graz00000
35Stuttgart00000
36Young Boys00000


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!