PSG enter the UEFA Champions League round of 16 stage for the 12th successive season, but it’s long-since been a case of ‘always the bridesmaid never the bride’ for the Parisian giants, who have never won the Champions League despite their riches. That’s perhaps largely attributed to the fact they’ve fallen at this stage in five of their last seven Champions League campaigns, ominously being knocked out by Spanish opposition on three of those five occasions.
That makes grim reading ahead of this two-legged tie with Real Sociedad, but having lost just seven of their last 72 European home games (W46, D19), PSG ought to be confident of securing a first-leg advantage. That is perhaps until you acknowledge that five of those defeats have come in their last 22 such games at the Parc des Princes, although it’s worth noting they haven’t lost on home turf in all competitions since way back in September (W11, D2).
Aiming to become the first side since Nice to leave the Parc des Princes victorious, Real Sociedad warmed up for this clash by extending their poor recent form. A 1-0 defeat to Osasuna at the weekend was their fourth scoreless game in a row (D3, L1), meaning 394 minutes have now passed since their last goal, a worrying trend ahead of their first last 16 jaunt in the Champions League in 20 years.
But having come through the Champions League group stage conceding just two goals – the least of any side – their lack of firepower doesn’t necessarily cripple them. In fact, they kept a clean sheet in all three of their away group stage games, so ahead of their first-ever UEFA meeting with PSG, they ought to be confident they’ll still be in the tie ahead of the second leg in March.
Key battle: PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé will be glad to face Sociedad, against whom he won nine of his ten personal meetings whilst playing for Barcelona (L1), scoring four goals in the process, all of which came after half-time. Sociedad stopper Álex Remiro has four Champions League clean sheets to his name this term, but of all goalkeepers to have played six group stage games, he made a joint-low 11 saves.
Hot stat: PSG scored exactly once in four of their last five Champions League games.
