Paris Saint-Germain defeated Real Sociedad 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 matchup.
Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola were PSG’s heroes, each scoring important goals in the second half.
Real Sociedad, who are unbeaten in this year’s competition, posed an early challenge, with PSG laboring in the first half. However, Kylian Mbappe’s talent shone through in the 58th minute, when he volleyed home from Marquinhos’ corner, breaking the tie and changing the tide in PSG’s favor.
Captain Marquinhos praised the team’s halftime chats and coach Luis Enrique’s effective direction. “Our mentality improved significantly in the second half. Luis Enrique always tells us the truth,
and that’s critical for the team,” Marquinhos stated. The skipper highlighted the importance of winning at home in the Champions League.
PSG’s second goal came in the 70th minute from the outstanding Bradley Barcola, who sealed the victory with an impressive individual performance. Barcola’s ability to cut through Real Sociedad’s defense and slot the ball past the goalie demonstrated PSG’s attacking strength.
Despite Real Sociedad’s persistence, PSG’s defense held firm, leaving the visitors with the daunting challenge of overcoming a two-goal deficit in the return leg on March 5 in Spain.
Notably, PSG’s victory came at a critical point, relieving pressure on a team that had suffered early exits in recent Champions League seasons. Real Sociedad failed to create an impact in their first knockout match in two decades, which was exacerbated by the absence of injured captain and top scorer Mikel Oyarzabal.
As Kylian Mbappe’s side prepares for the return leg, supporters remain cautiously optimistic, citing PSG’s history of difficult collapses in the competition’s final stages. PSG’s adventure continues, and the Champions League quest is alive and well.
