Real Sociedad were missing a striker against PSG. The French also failed to show the quality to win the game overall

Few football fans would have guessed that the Spanish team went out as group winners in the Champions League eight-final clash between PSG and Real Sociedad. In any case, it was an even battle on the pitch on Wednesday, decided by individual quality.

For a long time, the gameplay of PSG and Real Sociedad looked surprising. The visitors from the Basque Country pressed the favourite, created chances but struggled in the end. Kylian Mbappé‘s opening goal changed the tide, giving PSG a confidence boost.

Good Real Sociedad or bad PSG?

Experts expected a clear run and result, but Sociedad should have won the first half. Versatile standard situations, effective pressing and also a lacklustre PSG that didn’t look like the team that declared its ambition to win the whole competition.

“We deserved a point, great respect to the whole team. Next game will be something else, a fight to the end,” wrote Real Sociedad fan Dan in a liked comment under an Instagram post. And praise for the performance came from all sides.

“Bad result but we played well. At 0:1 we changed too much and the substitutions didn’t bring anything,” continued supporter Jongo, who alluded to a poor last third of the game from the visitors’ point of view. PSG clearly dominated the second half.

You can’t beat an experienced team without a skilled striker

Wednesday’s battle was in many ways reminiscent of Tuesday’s clash between Leipzig and Real Madrid. The outsider dominated in certain phases, only to suffer from the unproductive striker. In this case it was the Portuguese André Silva.

“Please buy a quality top striker,” wrote a fan of Penche. Although Silva pressed well in the match, it was clear that he had his prime a few years ago. And that he has the Champions League is not enough.

In any case, Real Sociedad’s mainstay Takefusa Kubo is back, and for the club the double-header with PSG may be the event of the decade, and they are confident of a rematch in the Basque Country. The second leg could be interesting, but Mbappé is Mbappé. We’ll see.

Source: Champions League