Real Sociedad vs PSG tips: Tight game expected as French champions protect first-leg advantage

Sergiu Baltuta
4 March 2024

Paris Saint-Germain take a 2-0 advantage to the Reale Arena for the second leg of their Champions League clash with Real Sociedad (2000 GMT). Tipstrr pundit Sergiu Baltuta takes a closer look.

UEFA Champions League, Tuesday March 5, kick-off 20:00, live on TNT Sports 2

PSG have one foot in the quarter-finals of the competition they have never won and will line up protecting a 20-game unbeaten record stretching back to early November, when they lost a group game 2-1 to AC Milan.

The team led by Luis Enrique are enjoying another excellent season and currently have an 11-point cushion above Brest at the top of the Ligue 1 table, which means they can perhaps afford to focus all of their attention on achieving their first-ever Champions League crown.

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They have not been in brilliant form of late, having drawn their last two games with Rennes (1-1) and most recently at Monaco (0-0) on Friday night.

Having seen off their Spanish rivals with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola in the first leg three weeks ago, the French champions will be keen to produce a similar performance to avoid letting their hosts back into this tie.

Without a doubt, all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappe, who was subbed at half-time on Friday, and it was a surprise to see France’s superstar watching the second half from the stands next to his mother.

Real Sociedad line up with their confidence bruised after suffering three consecutive defeats, including a demoralising penalty shoot-out disappointment in their Copa del Rey semi-final with Mallorca, and a 3-2 loss at Sevilla followed on Saturday.

Indeed, the Basque outfit have won only one of their last nine games (drawn 3, lost 5), and remain winless in their last seven home matches.

That worrying loss of form has cost them their place among the European qualifying places in La Liga, and adds extra importance to them extending this Champions League campaign, so we can expect them to put up a fight here.