In the round of 16 in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain overpowered Real Sociedad with a score of 2-1, leading to an aggregate score of 4-1. Despite on the brink of departing from PSG, Kylian Mbappé is not going without a fitting farewell. One desire still remains to be actualized and it’s a goal shared by all.
Two exceptional goals, reflecting the unmatched ability of Mbappé, resulted in the defeat of Real Sociedad and enabled PSG to enter the quarter finals of the Champions League. A step closer to the European Cup, PSG initiated this leg with a 2-0 lead from the first match. This extinguished any chances of a comeback for Real Sociedad, due to the commanding performance by Mbappé who is set to bid goodbye soon. He steered his team, whom he will be a part of until May, towards a 2-1 triumph in Spain.
Imanol Alguacil reminded them of the numerous comebacks noted in football history, while Luis Enrique warned of the devastation a wrong attitude could bring. His warning was firm: “A single goal from Real Sociedad may place us in a precarious position”. However, achieving this was recognized as a hard challenge since Real had previously been beaten. Although their performance in Paris was commendable, they were still defeated due to recurring issues. Their record included failing to score in five of their last eight matches and achieving victory in only one out of nine games.
Imanol expressed that he was not bothered about the timing of the first goal, be it in the 10th or 60th minute. Nevertheless, he emphasized more on preventing goals. After merely fifteen minutes, Mbappé’s effortless dominance was displayed once again.
Having received a precise pass from Ousmane Dembélé, Mbappé stormed down the left into the penalty area. Igor Zubeldia tried to counter him with his hands behind him, as if the challenge wasn’t already demanding enough. Mbappé skilfully demonstrated complete control over the ball, tricking his opponent and losing his balance. And then, in a fleeting moment, his shot blasted past Álex Remiro landing in the far corner of the goal, with such force that it nearly brought down the net.
Certainly, there was a flicker of hope present when referee Michael Oliver paused the game. The anticipation rose as people wondered if the goal could potentially be ruled out, but there were no viable reasons for this to happen, except for the fact that it was a sublime move.
Soon after, three pitch assistants proceeded to rectify the inflicted damage while Mbappé, who had effortlessly navigated past all opponents deep into the area, continued his game. He delivered a master stroke to Bradley Barcola, who, despite being just a few yards away from the goal, was hampered by Remiro. Undeterred, Mbappé sprinted towards the opposite post to initiate a striking shot, which was miraculously blocked by Remiro’s foot.
PSG was dominating the game at this point, compelling Real Sociedad to escalate their efforts despite the looming threat of Mbappé assessing the situation from the left side of the field. Real Sociedad was struggling to even land a substantial shot until Take Kubo’s endeavour, that narrowly missed the post, just as the whistle signalled half-time.
By this time, PSG had attempted six shots, with three of them being Mbappé’s. One more was aided by him and yet another, although indirectly: Real watched as Warren Zaïre‑Emery spun and ran through the centre-field. Their defence eerily receded, allowing him to continue solo, calculating it as a less harmful option than risking a pass to Mbappé. This strategy proved to be the right one, as Zaïre-Emery’s shot from the edge of the area missed the mark.
Nevertheless, Mbappé managed to increase his contribution. Lee Kang-in set him up for a goal early in the second half. The result was signature Mbappé – a textbook execution in front of the goal void of any signs of anxiety but filled with exceptional effortlessness. This was a familiar scene, with the only possible culmination being the ball hitting the back of the net.
Ultimately, this is exactly what happened. As Mbappé launched into the area, he poised himself for an arc shot towards the far corner. Then with a swift, calculated glance and ankle flick, he effortlessly cast the ball past a confused Remiro, right into the near post.
For a fleeting moment, Ander Barrenetxea injected some spirit into the match, heading a shot at the furthermost post. However, the linesman’s flag was up, which indicated an offside interference and reinforced Mbappe’s expertise. There is indeed skill but timing is also equally crucial. Often, he breaks away effectively and seldom miscalculates the perfect opportunity to make his move.
Real Madrid rebelled, steadfast in meeting their manager’s vows of making their supporters take pride in their performance, regardless of the result. Martin Zubimendi had a good opportunity to score following a well-executed move on the right, but his shot sailed above the crossbar, resulting in him collapsing on the pitch as the ball ascended. Then, a similarly stylish move on the left led to Barrenetxea setting up Beñat Turrientes close to the six-yard box, only for Gianluigi Donnarumma to deny them with a stunning save.
A shot from Jon Olasagasti hit the top part of the net afterwards and then finally in the 89th minute, Mikel Merino scored the goal they had been striving for, maintaining their singing and high spirits towards the finish line, despite being outplayed by the more skilled opponent. – Guardian