Preview: Paris v. Real Sociedad

a look at both teams' campaigns so faR

Despite being drawn into what was arguably the toughest group in the whole competition, Paris Saint-Germain managed to book their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for the 12th consecutive season last December. On their way there, the capital club picked up two prestigious wins at the Parc des Princes – 2-0 over Borussia Dortmund and 3-0 over AC Milan – and despite losing away to Newcastle (4-1) and at the San Siro (2-1), Les Rouge et Bleu earned a vital 1-1 draw at home to The Magpies before sealing qualification with another 1-1 draw, this time away to group leaders BVB. In doing so, Les Parisiens finished second in Group F with eight points and a superior goal difference to Milan.

Real Sociedad's group, meanwhile, was perhaps less flashy than Les Parisiens', but it looked every bit as tight and as evenly matched – at least on paper. On the pitch, however, the Basque side and Inter Milan eventually proved to be a cut above the rest. Incidentally, La Real got their European campaign underway with a 1-1 draw at home to I Nerazzurri before winning 2-0 away to FC Salzburg. The Spanish outfit then recorded two successive wins over SL Benfica – 1-0 and 3-1 – before closing out their group stage with a pair of 0-0 draws, firstly at home to Salzburg and then at the aforementioned San Siro. Having avoided defeat in all six games, the Txuri-Urdin ended up top of their group with 12 points and, just like Paris, with a superior goal difference to their Milanese opponents.

THE TWO TEAMS' CURRENT FORM IN NUMBERS

On Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to make it nine wins out of their last 12 UEFA Champions League home games, having notched up two draws and one defeat otherwise. In that time, the capital club's players have found the back of the net 26 times, making for an average of over two goals per game, and this impressive attacking power is reinforced by the fact that Les Parisiens have netted a total of 34 goals in their last 36 UCL home games. Across their last ten clashes with Spanish sides in particular, Les Rouge et Bleu boast an evenly balanced record of four wins, two draws and four defeats, while it's also worth noting that Paris managed to score in each of these ten fixtures, racking up a total of 19 goals.

That said, they'll need to redouble their efforts to get past the Basques' backline, which has conceded the fewest goals (two) and the fewest shots on target (12) of any team in this season's competition. With three wins and three draws so far, La Real remained unbeaten in the group stage and notably registered a record four clean sheets, while their enthusiastic pressing saw them make 70 final-third ball recoveries in those six games, which is more than any other side in the 2023–2024 edition of Europe's premier club competition. What's more, against Les Parisiens, the Txuri-Urdin will be playing in the UCL knockout stage for the first time in 20 years, having faced a different French side back in 2003–2004: Olympique Lyonnais.

THE OPPOSITION'S STRENGTHS

Imanol Alguacil’s team will most probably line up in their preferred 4-4-2 formation. In goal, it's the outstanding Álex Remiro, who has so far enjoyed an exceptional European campaign, with an 83.3% save rate. In front of him, another of the Basque team's key players will start in the form of Robin Le Normand. The Spain international is set to be joined by the rock-solid Igor Zubeldia, while Jon Pacheco is expected to start on the bench and Aritz Elustondo is sidelined with a foot injury. On the right side of defence, former Rennes captain Hamari Traoré is almost certain to start, as La Roja international Álvaro Odriozola is out with a knee injury.

On the other side of the defence, Real Sociedad have to contend with a number of absentees: Kieran Tierney is out with a thigh injury, as is Aihen Munoz. As a result, former Real Madrid player Javi Galán is expected to line up at left-back. In midfield, Spanish international Mikel Merino is indispensable to his team and should wear the captain's armband. He will undoubtedly be accompanied by another La Roja player: Martín Zubimendi. The defensive midfielder, who emerged from the Basque club’s youth academy, is also an important component of the Spanish eleven, although the 22-year-old Beñat Turrientes could also feature. In the right midfield position, we should once again find a Spanish international: Brais Méndez (6 goals, 5 assists in all competitions this season).

Promising Ander Barrenetxea (4 goals, 2 assists) is expected to start on the left, with usual emblematic captain Mikel Oyarzabal (12 goals, 1 assist) expected to be in the squad but unlikely to start. As for the front line, it should be occupied by the in-form Takefusa Kubo (6 goals, 4 assists). In the absence of Sheraldo Becker and Carlos Fernandez, the competition is raging between Umar Sadiq and former Leipzig striker André Silva for the final position in the XI. Lately, however, it's the Nigerian international (2 goals, 1 assist) who seems to have the upper hand. Despite a squad limited by injuries, it is a competitive eleven that will take to the pitch at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.