Paris Saint-Germain’s star forward Kylian Mbappé scored two brilliant goals to secure a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday. The French international, who is widely expected to leave PSG at the end of the season, showed his class and quality as he helped his team advance to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Mbappé shows his magic in San Sebastián
Mbappé was in sensational form from the start, as he exploited the space behind Real Sociedad’s high defensive line. He opened the scoring in the 15th minute, when he received a through ball from Ousmane Dembélé, sprinted past his marker, and curled a shot from a tight angle into the far corner. It was a stunning finish that left Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alejandro Remiro with no chance.
The hosts tried to respond, but they struggled to create clear chances against PSG’s solid defence. Their best opportunity came just before half-time, when Takefusa Kubo tested Keylor Navas with a long-range shot, but the Costa Rican keeper parried it away.
PSG were in control of the game, and they doubled their lead in the 56th minute, thanks to another Mbappé masterpiece. This time, the 23-year-old ran onto a pass from Kang-in Lee, cut inside from the left, and fooled Remiro with a low shot into the near post. It was Mbappé’s 21st goal in the Champions League, making him the youngest player to reach that milestone.
Real Sociedad score late consolation, but PSG cruise into last eight
Real Sociedad did not give up, and they tried to salvage some pride in the final stages of the game. They had several attempts on goal, but none of them troubled Navas. Their only reward came in the 89th minute, when Mikel Merino scored a consolation goal with a header from a corner.
However, it was too little, too late, as PSG held on to secure a comfortable win and a place in the quarter-finals. The Ligue 1 champions will now wait to see who they will face in the next round, as they aim to go one step further than last season, when they lost the final to Bayern Munich.
Mbappé, meanwhile, will continue to be the subject of intense speculation, as his contract with PSG expires in June. The World Cup winner has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, who are reportedly ready to make a big offer for him. However, as long as he is still wearing the PSG shirt, he will remain a dangerous and decisive player for his team.
