PLAYER RATINGS | Real Sociedad 1-2 PSG: Inspired Kylian Mbappé performance secures PSG’s Champions League progression
UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, 05/03/24
Captain Kylian Mbappé netted a brace as Paris Saint-Germain swatted aside Real Sociedad (1-2, agg. 1-4) to secure their progression to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The build-up to the second leg was dominated by talk about Mbappé. The France captain was controversially substituted at half-time during PSG’s draw against AS Monaco and his utilisation by Luís Enrique between now and the end of the season has been a talking point.
There were questions as to whether Mbappé would start against Real Sociedad. He did and he immediately made a difference. He got his first sighter, blazing over in the fifth minute, but it didn’t take him long to find his range. Just moments after Bradley Barcola drew a crucial close-range save from Aléx Remiro, Mbappé opened the scoring. It was vintage Mbappé, cutting back inside the box and rifling a shot into the far corner.
Tonight’s PSG line-up against Real Sociedad has an average age of 23 years and 361 days old, making it the club’s youngest ever starting XI in a Champions League encounter.
Mbappé almost doubled his account but was denied by a smart save from Remiro. Mbappé ran rampant in the first half, and he continued in the second. The Frenchman did get his second after latching onto Lee Kang-in’s sublime ball over the top. Baring down on goal, there was never a doubt that Mbappé, in this form, would miss.
Four goals down on aggregate, this PSG side, the youngest ever in a Champions League encounter, were in control, but as Real Sociedad became desperate, chances did come the way of the La Liga side. Ander Barrenetxea had the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out for the most marginal of offsides.
Mikel Oyarzabal then
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