At the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain host Real Sociedad on Wednesday, looking to maintain their impressive form. In their six most recent matches in various competitions, PSG have recorded five wins and one draw, instilling confidence in the possibility of a favorable result against Real Sociedad.
Paris Remains Favorite
The vibrant city of love, Paris, appropriately stages this European encounter on Valentine's Day. However, the mood in the French capital could quickly change to desolation if the Ligue 1 giants once again fall short in the early knockout stage of the Champions League.
After defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final and elimination by Manchester City in the 2021 semi-finals, PSG have stumbled in the round of 16 in the last two seasons of UEFA's premier club competition.
A disastrous collapse in the second game against Real Madrid marked their downfall in 2021-22, followed by a setback against Bayern in 2022-23.
Luis Enrique's team secured qualification to the Round of 16 on this occasion after failing to win any of their last three group games.
They drew with Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United, along with a 2-1 loss to Milan in early November. Still, PSG advanced from Group F in second place, thanks to their favorable head-to-head record against Stefano Pioli's Rossoneri.
The narrative could have taken a different turn, as Luis Enrique's continuity at the club would have been in jeopardy had Milan stumbled against Newcastle on the final day of the group stage.
Now, the French champions must seize the opportunity presented by their lucky break. Despite going into Wednesday's kickoff on a three-match winless streak in the Champions League, their longest in a single campaign since 2014-15, PSG will be confident against Real Sociedad.
The team's success depends on players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos and rising star Warren Zaïre-Emery. However, the main responsibility lies with Kylian Mbappé, a coveted target for Real Madrid.
The French star, with 43 goals in 67 Champions League appearances, is on the verge of overtaking Raúl (43) as the second-highest scorer in the competition for players aged 25 or younger, behind only Lionel Messi (59).
🏟️🎙️ Paris Saint-Germain 🆚 Real Sociedad: the preview from the Parc des Princes🔴🔵https://t.co/AusCZxFeEl
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_espanol) February 14, 2024
Real Sociedad Seeks to Surprise
While PSG's aspirations rely heavily on the talents of French sensation Mbappé, Real Sociedad have relied on their compatriots, as evidenced by seven goals this season in the Champions League, all scored by Spanish players.
Brais Méndez scored three goals, Mikel Oyarzabal with two, and Mikel Merino and Ander Barrenetxea scored one goal each, taking them into the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
In that previous campaign, Real Sociedad's journey was halted by Lyon in the Round of 16, marking their only previous appearance in that stage of the Champions League prior to this season.
The team's solid performance in the group stage instilled confidence in Imanol Alguacil's side, who finished unbeaten at the top of Group D, beating Inter with two wins over Benfica, a victory over Red Bull Salzburg and three draws.
Their success is attributed, in part, to their determined and aggressive defensive approach, leading the tournament with 70 high-intensity turnovers this season.
However, Alguacil could face the absence of key players for Wednesday's clash. Oyarzabal, Sheraldo Becker, Alvaro Odriozola, Kieran Tierney, Aihen Munoz and Carlos Fernandez were all absent for the 1-0 loss to Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday.
Oyarzabal, a crucial figure, remains a doubt for Wednesday, although Hamari Traore and Takefusa Kubo have been involved since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup, respectively. Aritz Elustondo is suspended.
