In a compelling Champions League encounter, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) claimed a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 tie, with Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola playing pivotal roles in securing the win.
Real Sociedad, arriving at the Parc des Princes unbeaten in this year’s competition after topping Group D, displayed resilience against PSG.
However, it was in the second half that the French giants seized control of the match.
In the 58th minute, Kylian Mbappe showcased his brilliance by firing home a volley, capitalizing on Marquinhos’ corner to give PSG the lead.
Three minutes later, Bradley Barcola extended PSG’s advantage, skillfully maneuvering the ball through the legs of Sociedad’s goalkeeper, Alex Remiro.
Sociedad, despite their unbeaten run in this year’s Champions League, struggled to find the back of the net for the fifth consecutive game in all competitions.
Mbappe, reflecting on the match, acknowledged the importance of scoring at crucial moments. He emphasized the significance of keeping a clean sheet, stating,
“The clean sheet is important for us, we’ve been looking for that in the Champions League.”
The 21-year-old Barcola, who joined PSG from Lyon in the summer, expressed his joy at scoring his first Champions League goal, describing it as a “childhood dream come true.”
Mbappe anticipates an open contest in the return leg, suggesting that Real Sociedad will likely adopt a more attacking approach, providing PSG with more space to exploit.
Marquinhos revealed that coach Luis Enrique delivered a stern halftime talk, expressing his anger and motivating the team to play out from the back.
“We managed to score at key moments in the game. We have a good lead,” Mbappe said in an interview.
“The return leg will be more open, they will attack more, and we will be given more space. If we get the space over 40 meters, I think we will score over there.”
The victory positions PSG with a valuable advantage as they head into the second leg of the Champions League tie against Real Sociedad.
The impact of key players, defensive strength, and strategic moments define PSG’s triumph in the initial encounter.
