Preview: Real Sociedad-Paris

First leg summary

Dynamics in numbers

This Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the eighth time in their history. The Parisians go into the second leg having won the first leg for the 10th time in a two-legged knockout in the competition, with a record of 5 qualifications and 4 eliminations so far. To combat the Basque team's efforts, the capital club will rely on Fabian Ruiz, who has the highest percentage of successful passes under pressure in the Champions League this season (93%). When it comes to scoring, Paris can turn to Kylian Mbappé, who has found the net in each of his last six matches against a Spanish side in the competition, scoring a total of eight goals in the process.

As for Real Sociedad, the team from San Sebastian will be hoping to deal Luis Enrique's men a bad hand, given that the Txuri Urdin have won three out of the Spanish coach's last five visits to the Reale Arena. To try turn the tides, the Basques will want to press high up the pitch in the Parisian half, as they did in the first leg, when the Spanish side won 19 balls in Paris' final third, the highest total for an opponent of the Rouge et Bleu at the Parc des Princes in a Champions League match since Opta began analysing the data. Particularly comfortable in this exercise, Real have won the ball back 89 times in the competition this season. In addition, the Donostiarras have never trailed at home in the Champions League since the start of this 2023-2024 season.

Opposing forces

Imanol Alguacil and his team mostly play a 4-3-3 system. In goal, Álex Remiro is as indispensable as ever, having produced 4 clean sheets in the Champions League this season and conceded just 4 goals in the space of 7 games. In central defence, Robin Le Normand should once again be accompanied by Igor Zubeldia, who is regularly preferred to Jon Pacheco while Aritz Elustondo is still injured. On the right, Spanish international Alvaro Odriozola is still unavailable, so we should see Hamari Traoré in a starting role.

At left-back, the Basque club are still without Aihen Muñoz, but can count on the return of Scottish international Kieran Tierney, who will be competing with Javi Galán for the starting spot. In midfield, on the other hand, Real will be able to rely on their mainstays. The rock-solid Martín Zubimendi is likely to start in central-defensive midfield and he should be backed up by two other Spanish internationals: Mikel Merino and Brais Méndez, to form a trio that could be a major asset for the Txuri urdin.

In attack, the lively Takefusa Kubo (7 goals and 4 assists in all competitions this season) is expected to take his place on the right wing, while Ander Barrenetxea is injured and therefore unable to take part in the second leg. To make up for the latter's absence, however, the Spanish side will be able to count on the return of their captain Mikel Oyarzabal (13 goals, 1 assist), who may even be able to start the match after missing the first leg.

Up front, Sheraldo Becker (3 goals) is also back, but he seems to be a step behind team-mates André Silva (2 goals) and Umar Sadiq (2 goals, 1 assist), who will likely be competing for the centre-forward spot. Despite a number of notable absentees, Real Sociedad will be able to call on a number of key players returning to their squad. The Parisians have been warned...