If PSG will do without Achraf Hakimi in January, Real Sociedad will prepare for its round of 16 of the Champions League against the Parisians without two African internationals but also without its most decisive player, the Japanese prodigy Take Kubo.
Only second in its Champions League group with as many victories as draws and defeats, PSG were lucky in the draw by falling against the weakest group winner, Real Sociedad. Kylian Mbappé and his teammates will have the opportunity to make the difference from the round of 16 first leg at the Parc des Princes, on February 14, three weeks before the second round in San Sebastian.
Luis Enrique will be without his Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi and his South Korean attacking midfielder Lee Kang-In for the entire month of January due to the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast (January 13-February 11). ) and the Asian Cup postponed to Qatar (January 12-February 10). The two players are playing with candidates for the respective continental coronation and could therefore find their Parisian teammates two days before the return of the LDC.
Kubo, the X factor of Real
On the side of Real Sociedad, the situation is even more problematic. The Senegalese right back Hamari Traoré, the Japanese right winger Take Kubo and the Nigerian center forward Umar Sadiq will be missing from the Basque team for several weeks. And unlike his compatriot on the Rouge et Bleu bench, Imanol Alguacil has a much smaller squad in order to remain competitive in La Liga.
Especially since the Japanese Samurai will clearly be playing for the Asian coronation and Real will greatly miss Kubo since he is the X factor of his team. He is the most decisive player of the Txuri-urdinak (six goals and four assists this season), he is the one who takes the most shots on goal (1.9 shots per match in the league), completes the most dribbles and gives the no more goal balls. Just that.
