Undoubtedly one of the more intriguing Champions League round of 16 ties gets underway on Wednesday night as Paris Saint-Germain welcome Real Sociedad to Parc des Princes.
The stylish Sociedad impressively topped Inter in Group D to progress as group victors, although injuries and a demanding schedule have seen their form slide somewhat heading into this fixture. Imanol’s side have fallen to seventh in La Liga having won just one of their previous five games and were also beaten at home by mid-table Osasuna at the weekend.
Still, many fancy them to upset France’s supreme force. PSG’s superstar-laden project failed to culminate in Champions League glory and they’ll now be leaning on Kylian Mbappe to spearhead their continental charge this term.
Luis Enrique’s men escaped the ‘Group of Death’ in second and have impressed domestically this term, extending their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to double digits in points after beating Lille 3-1 on Saturday night.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
PSG and Real Sociedad have never faced off in a competitive fixture.
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Mbappe was rested on Saturday night against Lille and will be champing at the bit to inspire the start of PSG’s Champions League knockout campaign.
Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery were all used off the bench at the weekend and are primed to return to the starting lineup on Wednesday.
Marquinhos will also come back in with Milan Skriniar and Presnel Kimpembe both out injured. Full-backs Nuno Mendes and Layvin Kurzawa also remain sidelined.
Lee Kang-in should return to the matchday squad following the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup.
PSG predicted lineup vs Real Sociedad (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Hernandez, Beraldo; Vitinha, Fabian, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola.
The visitors will be without the suspended Aritz Elustondo for Wednesday’s first leg. The Spaniard picked up three yellow cards during the group stage.
January arrival Sheraldo Becker will miss out with a muscle injury, as will Kieran Tierney, Carlos Fernandez and Mikel Odriozola. Aihen Munoz has been sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Star winger Mikel Oyarzabal has missed Sociedad’s recent outings with a muscle issue and is a doubt for Wednesday’s game.
Real Sociedad predicted lineup vs PSG (4-3-3): Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Galan; Zubimendi, Merino, Mendez; Kubo, Silva, Barrenetxea.
PSG have so often crumbled in this competition and many are tipping an upset here, but Sociedad have been struck by injury woes and a demise in form at the worse possible time.
Imanol’s admirable outfit will now face up against a fresh Mbappe and a PSG side that has lost just once at home all season. They’ve only recently secured big home wins over Brest – in the cup – and Lille.
While the visitors will back themselves to go toe-to-toe with Enrique’s controlled hosts, it’ll be a tough ask for them to snatch anything in Paris. PSG will know a sizeable first leg advantage is very much necessary given their struggles on the road in the competition.
