Prediction: Real Sociedad vs Paris Saint-Germain

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 12/17

Bookmaker: BetUS

Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain prepare to face each other again for the return fixture at the Reale Arena on Tuesday night, three weeks after an exciting first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 encounter at the Parc des Princes.

In the initial encounter, the Ligue 1 champions endured a first-half onslaught but emerged victorious with a 2-0 win. Since then, Real Sociedad have already faced disappointment in another knockout competition.

Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad, appearing in the Champions League knockout rounds for only the second time under their current name, showcased glimpses of promise in the first half at the Parc des Princes on Valentine’s Day. However, their inability to convert several promising opportunities proved costly as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring for Les Parisiens in the 58th minute, followed by Bradley Barcola’s impressive solo effort, sealing the victory for the French side. While Sociedad face a two-goal deficit, history against French teams also isn’t something they’ll be happy to call upon at the moment. Their previous knockout round appearance in 2003/04 saw them lose both legs against PSG’s Ligue 1 rivals Olympique Lyon.

Furthermore, Sociedad’s recent form does not inspire confidence. After their first-leg loss, they managed a 2-1 victory over Mallorca but suffered defeats in three consecutive matches, including a heartbreaking Copa del Rey penalty-shootout loss in the semi-finals – to none other than Mallorca.

Their woes continued with a 3-2 defeat to Sevilla in their latest La Liga fixture. With just one win in their last nine games across all competitions, Imanol Alguacil’s side are currently enduring a seven-match winless streak at home, a stark contrast to their November victory over Sevilla – which incidentally marked the start of the woeful run.

Team News

Sociedad faced the absence of key defender Aritz Elustondo in the first leg due to suspension, as the 29-year-old accumulated yellow cards. Though eligible to return to action in European competition, Elustondo was among six players sidelined for the loss to Sevilla due to a toe injury.

The injury list also included Martin Merquelanz (knee), Alvaro Odriozola (ligament), Aihen Munoz (ACL), Carlos Fernandez (knee), and Ander Barrenetxea (back). However, there is optimism that Barrenetxea might recover in time to feature alongside Elustondo in Tuesday’s match.

In preparation for the second leg, Alguacil heavily rotated the squad for the weekend’s fixture against Sevilla, keeping the upcoming match in mind. With a return to full strength expected midweek, Mikel Merino, Robin Le Normand, Hamari Traore, Mikel Oyarzabal and Takefusa Kubo are likely to be reinstated to the starting lineup.

Paris Saint-Germain

In their quest to overcome the last-16 curse that has plagued them in previous Champions League seasons, Paris Saint-Germain, still vying for their first top-level European title, need only to avoid a disastrous collapse at the Reale Arena to progress further towards the elusive crown.

Despite several setbacks in 2024, PSG enter the match with an impressive 20-game unbeaten run to uphold. However, they have stumbled in their last two Ligue 1 fixtures, goalless draws against Rennes and Monaco.

In their most recent fixture against Monaco, Gianluigi Donnarumma was called upon to make several crucial saves, yet the cameras often captured star player Kylian Mbappe seated alongside his mother after an unexpected half-time substitution.

As PSG face Real Sociedad in Spain, they lead the tie on aggregate for the 10th time in Champions League knockout history. However, they have only managed to advance on five of the previous nine occasions.

Furthermore, PSG are yet to keep a clean sheet in 12 Champions League away matches against Spanish teams. They were famously on the receiving end of Barcelona’s 2016/17 comeback, known as the “Remontada,” after a 4-0 first-leg victory. Despite this, with just two goals conceded in their last six away games, led by manager Luis Enrique, who orchestrated Barcelona’s historic 6-1 victory, PSG are unlikely to suffer a similar fate in this encounter.

Team News

Mbappe was substituted early for the second consecutive Ligue 1 game on Friday night, and although he seemed to be walking with a slight limp around the Stade Louis II track, manager Enrique clarified that his substitution was purely tactical.

Enrique emphasized the need for his team to adapt to playing without Mbappe, but whether such decisive choices from the Spaniard will continue until the end of the season remains uncertain. It would be surprising to see Mbappe relegated to the bench for the second leg.

The Ligue 1 champions are expected to welcome back Marquinhos, who was rested against Monaco due to a calf concern. However, Milan Skriniar (ankle), Sergio Rico (head), Layvin Kurzawa (back), Danilo Pereira (thigh), and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) will be unavailable.

Additionally, Marco Asensio had to be substituted early against Monaco due to a thigh injury, creating an opportunity for first-leg goalscorer Barcola to return to the side.

Conclusion

Sociedad have no option but to hit PSG with everything they’ve got, and they will be aware that such an approach would leave a lot of space for the visitors to take advantage of.

There should be goals at both ends of the pitch.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 12/17

Bookmaker: BetUS