Paris, February 13, 2024, The Europe Today: Paris St Germain’s top scorer, Kylian Mbappe, who sat out the Ligue 1 game last weekend as a precautionary measure, is expected to make a return for the Champions League last 16 tie against Real Sociedad, according to PSG manager Luis Enrique.
Mbappe, boasting an impressive record of 30 goals in 29 games this season, was an unused substitute in PSG’s 3-1 victory over Lille on Saturday. This decision was made as a precautionary step following a knock to his ankle in the Coup de France clash against Brest, where PSG secured another 3-1 win.
The French forward has played the full 90 minutes in all six Champions League games this season for PSG, and Luis Enrique indicated that Mbappe is likely to continue this trend in Wednesday’s first-leg match against the Spanish side.
Speaking at a press conference, Enrique said, “When a team has a player like Kylian Mbappe, of course we know that the more he plays, the better, because we all benefit from that. There is no doubt about it. He could have played (on Saturday) if it had been a final, but it wasn’t, it was not worth the risk. Kylian Mbappe is available, just like the other players.”
While PSG comfortably leads the Ligue 1 with an 11-point advantage at the top over Nice and a 16-game unbeaten streak, their Champions League journey has encountered challenges. Finishing second in their group behind Borussia Dortmund, PSG faced defeats to Newcastle United and AC Milan. They are also without a win in their last three Champions League games.
In contrast, Real Sociedad, currently seventh in LaLiga, topped their Champions League group, which included Inter Milan, and have remained undefeated in Europe this season.
Luis Enrique acknowledged the challenge Real Sociedad poses, stating, “Real Sociedad has a tight defense in the Champions League, they don’t give the ball away easily. We have to press them aggressively. They are certainly one of the best teams in the competition; that is why they qualified as group winners. They were in a group with last year’s finalists.”
As the anticipation builds for the crucial Champions League clash, PSG aims to overcome recent challenges and assert their dominance, while Real Sociedad seeks to extend their successful European campaign by putting up a strong defensive front against the formidable PSG attack. The football world awaits a thrilling encounter between these two competitive sides.
