Majestic Mbappe scores brace as PSG cruise past Real Sociedad in Champions League last 16
It didn’t take Les Parisiens long to go on the front foot as Kylian Mbappe glided past Hamari Traore and teed up Bradley Barcola for an effort that was instinctively saved by Alex Remiro.
PSG’s talisman then opened the scoring for the fifth time in his last six goalscoring appearances, collecting Ousmane Dembele's through ball and masterfully working space from Igor Zubeldia before beating Remiro with a strike so powerful it pulled some of the netting from the post.
Before the half-hour mark, Mbappe got another effort off after being set up by Barcola, but was impressively denied by Remiro’s outstretched boot.
Having done so well to press PSG for large periods at the Parc des Princes, La Real struggled to impose themselves on their home turf as the visitors slickly moved the ball with purpose. The hosts still had promising moments, though, with Takefusa Kubo hitting an ambitious strike that sailed past Gianluigi Donnarumma’s post shortly before the break.
PSG continued to look imperious after the restart and Mbappe made their impressive play count when he scored again in the 56th minute. Half time substitute Kang-in Lee released his captain with a ball behind Zubeldia that the forward latched onto before fooling Remiro with a clinical finish at the near post.
Ander Barrenetxea came agonisingly close to lifting his side after emerging from the bench, as he strayed marginally offside before heading home from Martin Zubimendi’s cross then delivered a searching ball that narrowly evaded Mikel Oyarzabal.
Mikel Merino eventually got the spirited hosts on the scoresheet when his effort trickled in following Lucas Beraldo’s attempt to block it.
That gave their supporters something to celebrate but proved inconsequential in the tie, as PSG went a 21st consecutive match unbeaten to progress past the Round of 16 for just the third time in the last eight seasons. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 10 in a run that has seen them eliminated from the Champions League and Copa del Ray while also dropping out of La Liga’s top six.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Check out the match stats and report here.
