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Key events
12 min: Becker down the flank, the former Union player robbed this time. PSG are not trying to sit on their lead; history dictates that’s probably a very bad idea.
10 min: Close for PSG and it’s all Mbappe, as he missiles to the byline, and Barcola’s flick is well saved by Remiro. Good save, and Mbappe looks to be up for this.
8 min: The corner doesn’t come to much; Merino, the Newcastle legend himself, tries to hook it back in but the ball is cleared.
7 min: PSG are pushing up, not letting La Real set the pace. Though it’s the regains they are known for, this new-fangled game when teams chase down mistakes. It nearly pays, too. Kubo’s cross is bundled behind.
5 min: Is 2-0 a dangerous lead for a team like PSG? Considering past history, then very much so. Here’s Mbappe’s first go, from an inside-left position, but he fires over.
3 min: La Real’s Traore has an injury, and it looks like a shoulder. It’s been put through its paces to check after a collision as he scampered along on the overlap.
1 min: Away we go, and the noise is very loud as La Real get after their opponents from the get-go. Will that unfamiliar defensive partnership hold for PSG? Let’s see, shall we?
Big noise greets both teams as they take to the field in San Sebastian, 40,000 Basques singing their hearts out for mutilak (the lads).
As kick-off approaches, a reminder of the first leg.
“Madre mía, what suffering! What a great team! What a way to compete! I don’t even want to think about the second leg,” was Luis Enrique’s post‑match verdict on opponents who pressed without fear but were picked off in a limb-weary second half by the high-craft of the Paris attack.
More on Mbappe here.
“It was 100% the coach’s decision. Sooner or later, we will have to get used to playing without Kylian Mbappé. It is my decision and one that I take with the objective of doing the best for the team … I don’t have a problem [with him]. It’s just a question of management and how best to manage the squad,” began Luís Enrique, who by the third successive question on the topic had become exasperated.
That team news: for La Real, Ander Barrenetxea is not fit enough to start. Sheraldo Becker starts instead. Mikel Oyarzabal is starting for the first time in over a month.
For PSG: no Marquinhos and Danilo as Nuno Mendes comes in, while Hernández comes in to partner Lucas Beraldo in central defence. Mbappe starts despite coming off at half-time on Friday against Monaco and sitting with his dear old mum.
Quite the welcome for PSG, if not quite Anfield Road or Goodison Park. Let the pyro begin.
The teams
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Galan, Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino, Becker, Kubo, Oyarzabal. Subs: Barrenetxea, Marrero, Gonzalez, Olasagasti, Tierney, Umar, Pacheco, Andre Silva, Turrientes, Magunazelaya, Marin, Aramburu.
PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Zaire Emery, Vitinha, Fabian, Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Barcola. Subs: Gadou, Navas, Ugarte, Marquinhos, Goncalo Ramos, Danilo Pereira, Lee, Muani, Mukiele, Carlos Soler, Mayulu, Tenas.
Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
Preamble
It’s possible this could be the last 90 minutes – perhaps another 30 – of Kylian Mbappe’s quest to win the Champions League with PSG. Let’s be honest here, this is the plotline we are all considering here. In the first leg, the great man’s goal meant La Real have something of a mountain to climb, and a 2-0 deficit. They played well in Paris but lacked the quality in attack to pull off a famous win, and show old Kylian what he can expect to face when he’s a full-time La Liga player. The problem is they haven’t won at home since 26 November, and have collected just one victory from nine. So, a shock on the cards? You never know with PSG… you actually probably do but losing this one would be perhaps the most spectacular flop of all during l’affaire Mbapps.
Kick-off is 8pm UK time. Join me.
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