In a thrilling Champions League encounter, Kylian Mbappe stole the spotlight with a goal on his return from injury, propelling Paris St-Germain (PSG) to a 2-0 lead against Real Sociedad in the last-16 tie. The French champions, with a historically modest record in the competition, faced a challenging night until Mbappe’s impactful comeback.
Mbappe, who missed the previous match due to an ankle problem, showcased his goal-scoring prowess by finding the net at the back post after a well-placed corner. The timely strike provided PSG with a breakthrough and ignited the momentum at Parc des Princes. Bradley Barcola extended the lead with a skillful finish past Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper, Alex Remiro.
The match saw moments of brilliance, including Remiro denying Mbappe a second goal by expertly tipping his attempt onto the crossbar. PSG, despite their struggles in the first half, managed to regain control and deliver an impressive second-half performance.
PSG manager Luis Enrique expressed his satisfaction with the team’s turnaround, stating, “If you told me at half-time we would win 2-0, I would be dancing for two hours. We had to change everything because they were pressing us very high. We couldn’t press, and it was like a nightmare. When that happens, you are going to lose confidence, but football is unbelievable, and we could change that. In the second half, it was more what we wanted.”
Real Sociedad, despite the 2-0 deficit, will carry hope into the second leg scheduled for March 5th in Spain. PSG, yet to secure a Champions League title, aims to build on this lead as they strive for European glory. The French side will need to maintain their form, while Real Sociedad will be eager to mount a comeback with a more assertive attacking display in the return fixture.