PSG-Real Sociedad is a match valid for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League and is played Wednesday at 9 p.m.: TV, streaming, probable formations, predictions.
For once, Lady Luck was benevolent to PSG, which emerged with a smile from last December’s round of 16 draw in Nyon. Despite the fact that the Parisians were not among the top seeds – they only finished second in the so-called “group of death” with Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle – they found the least strong team among the front-runners, Real Sociedad.
Vice versa, Imanol’s Basques – who are about to play in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in two decades – face one of the leading candidates for the final victory. Having won the long-distance duel with Inter Milan – they finished tied on points with the Nerazzurri but came out on top thanks to goal difference – has therefore served little purpose. Real Sociedad, moreover, does not arrive in top form to this challenge: since the 0-0 draw at San Siro on the last day of the group stage, the Txuri-urdin seem to have regressed. In the league since then they have gotten the better of only Celta Vigo and have plummeted to seventh place, far from the Champions zone.
On Saturday they lost in front of their own public to Osasuna, remaining goalless for the fourth consecutive game. Offensively, there is clearly a problem: it’s up to Imanol to solve it as soon as possible.
PSG, head only for the cup
Not of these problems, on the other hand, is PSG, which has now taken the lead in Ligue 1. The victory over Lille last weekend is a very serious mortgage on yet another title: Nice, defeated by Monaco, finished at -11.
The real test of Luis Enrique’s team, however, continues to be the Champions League, where so far the Parisians have not charmed, except in a few circumstances. In fact, they have in fact achieved qualification in a scrappy manner, risking big until the last round. In 2024, PSG is still undefeated – seventeen useful results in a row – and the only half-step was the 2-2 draw with Brest two weeks ago. The Spanish coach against Lille dosed the energy of his men – Mbappé, for example, remained on the bench – but will have to do without Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes and Skriniar. In Real Sociedad, Japan’s Kubo – so far engaged in the Asian Cup with his national team – is back, but Oyarzabal is in strong doubt. The other heavy absence is that of Elustondo, who is disqualified.
The prediction
PSPG will most likely take advantage of the not easy moment Real Sociedad is going through trying to mortgage qualification. We predict a success for the Parisians with at least two goals to spare.
The probable lineups of PSG-Real Sociedad
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira, Hernández; Zaïre-Emery, Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha; Dembélé, Mbappé, Barcola.
REAL SOCIEDAD (4-3-3): Remiro; Traoré, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Galan; Merino, Zubimendi, Méndez; Kubo, Sadiq, Barrenetxea.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
