Paris Saint-Germain managed to escape the trap of Real Sociedad (2-0) in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, but the pressure will be on on March 5 to validate their ticket for the quarters .
Everything remains to be done: the Parisians will have to be up to the task on March 5 in San Sebastian to see the quarter-finals, far from the Parc des Princes and where they have always been less good this season in the Champions League (two defeats, a draw).
Wednesday evening at the Park, Luis Enrique’s men escaped thanks to a set piece and a quick attack, while until then they had been pressed very hard by the Basques.
Authoritarian in Ligue 1 but remaining on two eliminations in quick succession in the 8th of C1, they did not respond in the first period to the intensity nor really resisted the aggressive play of the Basques, known for having this clear identity of play.
Apart from a lost duel between Mbappé and the Real Sociedad goalkeeper (6th) and a breakthrough from Dembélé (25th), the Parisians were not dangerous and we even almost fell behind when captain Mikel Merino hit the bar ( 45th).
Unlike the two matches against Newcastle which also pressed high and where PSG did not achieve much (4-1, 1-1), they resisted and found the fault.
It was on a corner that they found the solution thanks to a recovery at the far post from Mbappé (58th, 1-0), his fourth goal this season in C1.
The French star, hit in the ankle last week against Brest in the Coupe de France and preserved against Lille on Saturday in Ligue 1, was very close to the double but his powerful shot was deflected by Alex Remiro on the bar.
Marquinhos, the Brazilian central defender of Paris SG, during the eighth first leg of C1 against Real Sociedad on February 14, 2024 at the Parc des Princes in Paris / MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP
Barcola’s first goal in C1
Then on a rapid offensive, Bradley Barcola, the other element of the Parisian offensive trident with Dembélé and Mbappé, managed on his own to make the break (70th), well launched by Fabian Ruiz. First goal of his career in C1.
They then attacked the depth by playing quickly forward, far from the philosophy of Luis Enrique who focuses his game on control and circulation of the ball.
Formidable in Ligue 1, the attacking trio was not as effective and complicit against Real Sociedad. Rather efficient on its individualities.
Seventh in La Liga and decimated by injuries, notably that of their captain Mikel Oyarzabal, the Spaniards pressed less, tired after taking a blow to the head.
Unlike the capital club, which narrowly qualified in the round of 16 behind Dortmund after two defeats and a draw in the group stage, the San Sebastián team finished first ahead of Inter Milan, finalist of the last edition.
The Basques, who had not reached this stage of the C1 for 20 years, had not yet lost by more than a goal this season. On the attack side, they have not scored in five matches.
With this victory, the door to the quarters opened a little while PSG was eliminated in the 8th five times in the last seven editions
Takefusa Kubo, the Japanese playmaker of Real Sociedad, during the eighth first leg of C1 against Paris SG on February 14, 2024 in Paris / MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP
But the Parisians have never delivered a poor performance against weaker teams like Real Sociedad: Valencia in 2013, Leverkusen in 2014, Dortmund, Atalanta Bergamo and Leipzig in 2020.
However, everything is not perfectly in place on the Paris side and an elimination on March 5, the date of the return match in San Sebastian, would therefore constitute another bitter failure for Paris in the premier European competition.
