Mbappé destroys Real Sociedad on the way to the quarterfinals
A double from the PSG star eliminates the San Sebastian team in the ‘Champions’
MADRID, 5 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad has said goodbye to the round of 16 of the 2023-24 Champions League after losing this Tuesday at the Reale Arena, in the second leg, against Paris Saint-Germain (1-2), to whom Two brilliant performances by Kylian Mbappé were enough to confirm the advantage of the first leg and establish himself as one of the great candidates for the continental title.
The 0-2 at the Parc des Princes and the superb performance of the French ‘killer’ were enough for Luis Enrique’s men, who did not speculate and did not give themselves a break, to eliminate a Basque team that showed its strength in the final stretch, saying goodbye to the top European competition with Mikel Merino’s goal.
Before, Mbappé opened the scoring with a shot from almost no angle, and as soon as the second half started he rounded off his double with another ‘crack’ action to leave the ‘txuri urdin’ team with no options.
Neither the Anoeta atmosphere nor the first incursions near the Paris area worried a serious PSG that had an impeccable first hour. Luis Enrique’s men stopped any attempt from San Sebastian to impose their game, suffocating them with a devastating weapon, perhaps the most lethal today: Kylian Mbappé.
A great save by Alex Remiro from a point-blank shot by Bradley Barcola was the prelude to a new ‘mischief’ by the French international when the first quarter of an hour was up; He received a ball from Ousmane Dembélé on the left side of the inside of the area and, after cutting off Zubeldia, he hit a right-footed shot to the long post that was unstoppable for the home goalkeeper (min.15).
The intended striker’s haul could have been even greater at half-time had it not been for another intervention by Remiro, who on the stroke of half an hour prevented the score from being 0-2 by blocking a shot close to the PSG star’s post with his foot.
Despite holding on well at the back, the Basque team continued to struggle in the final third and barely created any danger, with only one shot on goal in the first 45 minutes which, yes, was on the verge of giving them a tie. It was almost in extra time, with a left-footed shot by Take Kubo that went just past the top corner.
But the duel had a single protagonist, who took out his wand again ten minutes after the resumption of the match. A ball into space left him alone in front of the goalkeeper, although heeled; In a situation in which any attacker would have defined the long post, Mbappé looked for the only gap there was and, with a low shot, beat Remiro by his post (min.55).
With the tie more than sentenced, Real drew on pride and got rid of its complexes. Ander Barrenetxea even found the goal in the 62nd minute, but the action was ruled out due to offside. Opportunities were rushing; Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino failed to take advantage of theirs, and in the 75th minute Martín Zubimendi finished high in the clearest shot for Alguacil’s team.
Beñat Turrientes ran into Donnarumma’s reflexes with ten minutes remaining, which momentarily thwarted ‘txuri urdin”s goal, which almost reached injury time; In a corner caused by a shot by Olasagasti that was deflected behind Mukiele’s back, Mikel Merino pierced the nets of the Parisian goal with the ‘Champions’ farewell goal for the San Sebastián team (min.89).
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: REAL SOCIEDAD, 1 – PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN, 2 (0-1, at half-time).
–ALIGNMENTS:
REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro; Traoré, Zubeldia (Pacheco, min.76), Le Normand, Galán; Zubimendi (Olasagasti, min.83), Brais Méndez (Turrientes, min.61), Merino; Kubo, Becker (Barrenetxea, min.61); and Oyarzabal (André Silva, min. 77).
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi (Soler, 83 mins), Beraldo, Hernandez, Nuno Mendes (Mukiele, 61 mins); Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz (Ugarte, min.77); Dembele (82 mins), Barcola (Kang-in Lee 46 mins) and Mbappe.
–GOALS:
0-1, min.15: Mbappé.
0-2, min.56: Mbappé.
1-2, min.89: Merino.
–REFEREE: Michael Oliver (ENG). He cautioned Kubo (min.42) and Zubeldia (min.54) for Real Sociedad and Nuno Mendes (min.28), Achraf Hakimi (min.41) and Dembélé (min.45 + 4) for Real Sociedad. of Paris Saint-Germain.
–STADIUM: Reale Arena.