Kylian Mbappe shines brightly as Luis Enrique’s team secures a first-leg advantage in the Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in Paris.

Kylian Mbappe stole the show as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 clash at the Parc des Princes.

In the first half, Real Sociedad dominated the game with their relentless high press, suffocating the hosts and frustrating the home crowd. Andre Silva came close with a header, and Mikel Merino struck the crossbar with a superb effort just before halftime, threatening an upset.

However, PSG raised their game in the second half, and Real Sociedad seemed to fade away. This allowed Mbappe and Barcola to make the difference and give the hosts a significant advantage to take to Spain for the second leg.

Next, PSG will face Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday, while Real Sociedad will travel to Mallorca in La Liga on Sunday. The second leg of this Champions League tie is scheduled for March 5.

The talking point of the match was undoubtedly PSG’s talisman, Kylian Mbappe. With PSG’s history of falling at the last-16 stage in recent seasons, Mbappe’s performance was crucial in getting his team back on track. There has been much speculation about his future, and this could be his last chance to lead Paris to a Champions League title. Scoring the opening goal in this match was a dream come true for the headline-makers.

Mbappe was named the player of the match for his influential performance. After a disappointing first half, he responded with a sharper showing in the second period and played a key role in securing the victory for his team.

Player ratings for PSG saw high marks for Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, and Mbappe, who received an 8 out of 10 rating. Real Sociedad’s standout performers were Alex Remiro, Takefusa Kubo, and Mikel Merino, who all received an 8 out of 10 rating.

The match highlights included Mbappe’s early chance, which was well saved by Remiro, Silva’s header that went just wide, and Merino’s strike that hit the crossbar. Mbappe’s opening goal came from a corner, with Marquinhos flicking the ball on for him to volley home. He later had another chance, but his powerful shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Remiro. Barcola’s goal sealed the victory for PSG as he outpaced the defenders and the goalkeeper to slot the ball into the net.

Overall, it was a crucial win for PSG, but they still have a challenging second leg in Spain to navigate. With Mbappe in their ranks, they cannot be ruled out, despite facing stronger opponents in the competition.