Real Sociedad 1-2 Paris St-Germain (1-4 agg): Two Kylian Mbappe goals send PSG into Champions League quarter-finals
Mbappe #Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has scored six goals in the Champions League this season, more than any other player
Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe said he has “no problems” with manager Luis Enrique after scoring both goals in their Champions League victory over Real Sociedad to put PSG comfortably into the quarter-finals.
The France forward shone during his first 90-minute performance since 14 February.
With the trip to San Sebastian billed as a potentially tricky second leg for PSG to negotiate, all eyes were on Mbappe, who has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer.
Since announcing his intention to leave Parc des Princes Enrique’s handling of the 25-year-old has been questioned, with PSG’s star man relegated to the substitutes’ bench or withdrawn early from their last three Ligue 1 games.
“I always want to play in the Champions League, it is a very important competition. I could never be a player who hides,” Mbappe told broadcaster Canal Plus on Tuesday.
“My relationship with the coach is good. There is no problem even if people might think there is. I have many issues but the coach is not one of them.”
Asked about Mbappe’s substitutions in recent games, manager Enrique told Canal Plus: “Kylian will score 50 goals, make 25 assists with any coach, any team.
“Apparently, his immediate future won’t be here so we’ll have to test other solutions.”
Mbappe turned in a superb performance to register his 27th and 28th goals of the campaign for Enrique’s side.
The World Cup winner served an early warning to the hosts by accelerating past Hamari Traore to tee up a chance for Bradley Barcola, which was well saved by home goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
And six minutes later, Mbappe opened his account for the evening, latching on to Ousmane Dembele’s pass and teasing home defender Igor Zubeldia, before whipping a right-foot effort into the bottom-right corner with such power and precision that it temporarily dislodged the netting.
Mbappe’s second of the night arrived shortly after the break as he raced clear down the left to collect Lee Kang-in’s pass and then emphatically dispatched a disguised low shot past Remiro at his near post.
It was no more than the Parisians deserved with Imanol Alguacil’s Sociedad team far too passive in the opening stages and only sparking into life after they had fallen four goals behind on aggregate.
By then it was far too late with Mikel Merino’s driven effort in the closing minutes proving merely a consolation.
The draw for the last eight of the competition takes on Friday, 15 March (11:00 GMT).
Departing Mbappe sparkles for PSG
One week after their Copa del Rey semi-final exit to Mallorca on penalties there was more disappointment for Real Sociedad – though this time it came from a predictable source.
However, if manager Enrique’s decisions to not play Mbappe for full matches have been made with one eye on the future, his performance here only served to deliver a painful reminder of the huge void he will need to fill in the summer.
The hosts knew all about the danger the forward posed, but stopping him is an entirely different matter.
Zubeldia and Traore were in close proximity when he opened the scoring but neither was able to intervene.
And with PSG dominating in midfield for the first hour of the encounter, Mbappe, described as “probably the most dangerous man on the planet at the minute” by former England striker Michael Owen on TNT Sports, was given a seemingly endless supply line to inflict damage as his side reached the last eight for the first time since 2021.
Line-upsReal Sociedad
Formation 4-3-3
1Remiro
18Traoré5Zubeldia24Le Normand25Galán
23Méndez4Zubimendi8Merino
14Kubo10Oyarzabal11Becker
Substitutes
PSG
Formation 4-3-1-2
99G Donnarumma
2Hakimi21Hernández35Lopes Beraldo25Nuno Mendes
33Zaïre-Emery17Vitinha8Ruiz
10Dembélé
29Barcola7Mbappé
Substitutes
Referee:Michael Oliver
Attendance:39,336
Live Text
Match ends, Real Sociedad 1, Paris Saint Germain 2.
Second Half ends, Real Sociedad 1, Paris Saint Germain 2.
Manuel Ugarte (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by André Silva (Real Sociedad).
Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Jon Pacheco.
Attempt saved. Vitinha (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé.
Goal! Real Sociedad 1, Paris Saint Germain 2. Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Attempt missed. Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Attempt saved. Beñat Turrientes (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Takefusa Kubo.
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Nordi Mukiele.
Attempt blocked. Jon Olasagasti (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Takefusa Kubo.
Offside, Paris Saint Germain. Kylian Mbappé is caught offside.
Lee Kang-In (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Hamari Traoré (Real Sociedad).
Lucas Hernández (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad).
Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad).
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Jon Olasagasti replaces Martín Zubimendi.
Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Carlos Soler replaces Achraf Hakimi.