In the round of 16 first leg of C1, PSG dominated Real Sociedad with a score of 2-0. Mbappé and Barcola materialized the good period for his team.
It was the match that would determine PSG’s season and it could have turned into a nightmare. For almost an hour, the French champions offered nothing interesting against Real Sociedad. But, they eventually woke up. Kylian Mbappé started the surge, before Bradley Barcola stood out with a magnificent break goal.
2-0, the result seemed comfortable before the return match at Sen Sebastian. And it is especially flattering in view of what the French champions offered in terms of production during a good part of the match. Before the break, they were even below everything. There wouldn’t even have been anything illogical about them finding themselves behind in the score. Merino had found the post at the 46eleading the Park to whistle at its players as they entered the locker room.
Mbappé woke up PSG
Fortunately, in the second half, following tactical changes made by their coach, the Ile-de-France residents finally rose to the occasion. They have found a conquering, incisive game made of rapid projections forward. And who other than Mbappé to show the way forward? At 58e minute, and on a deflection from Marquinhos following a corner, he sprang at the far post to take the ball and propel it deep.
This achievement completely changed the face of the match. Paris is proud, while the Basque team has completely lost its footing. The break could have occurred from the 64e with a strike from Mbappé on the crossbar, but it is finally at the 71ste that the locals doubled the bet. A second goal scored by Barcola.
While he had been quite discreet until then, the former Lyonnais showed his full range in this decisive action. A lightning acceleration with the ball at the foot to overtake Hamari Traoré, followed by an imperial left kick. With this victorious initiative, we understand better why Luis Enrique has blindly trusted him for several matches.
Paris finished the match better than it started it
Once they took cover, the Parisians were a little less insistent. But they still kept their opponents well away from their surface. Ousmane Dembélé continued to create danger on his right wing, until he left the field in the 82ndewhile Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Warren Zaire-Emery ruled the roost in midfield.
With this score of 2-0, qualification for the quarters is not yet assured. But it is clearly on the right track for PSG. If they avoid another delayed start in the second leg, it is difficult to see how they could miss qualification for the quarters for the 3e year in a row.
