Real Sociedad v PSG – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Real Sociedad host PSG in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. The Parisians hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg and face a side who are winless in their last seven home matches. The Basque club languishes seventh in La Liga.

Real Sociedad Form

Sociedad are really in a slump right now. Their successful Group Phase with three wins and three draws is a distant memory. Even their solid defending – 11 clean sheets in 15 fixtures going into the first leg – has evaporated.

After three successive goalless draws, they lost 1-0 at home to Osasuna and 2-0 away to PSG. After the first leg, they won 2-1 at Mallorca but three successive losses followed. They were beaten 3-1 at home by Villarreal and lost on penalties to Mallorca at home in the Copa del Rey. On Saturday, they were beaten 3-2 at Sevilla.

Real Sociedad Team News

Coach Imanol Alguacil has central defender Aritz Elustondo available after he missed the first leg due to suspension. Kieran Tierney is fit again but right-back Alvaro Odriozola is out.

Left back Aihen Munoz is still injured and so is forward Carlos Fernandez. Takefusa Kubo, Robin Le Normand, and Mikel Moreno were all rested in the last match with this clash in mind.

Real Sociedad Motivation

The Basque club will give everything to try to turn this time around. An early goal will give them hope.

Sociedad can’t open up too much or the pace of Mbappe will destroy them on the break. They may need to be 1-0 up with 20 minutes to go and then take big risks.

PSG Form

PSG haven’t lost a match since November when they were beaten 2-1 at AC Milan. The last 20 matches have brought 14 wins and six draws. They started the new year in great form with four wins before a surprise 2-2 home draw vs Brest.

Three wins followed that minor setback and they made it four victories with a 2-0 first-leg win against Real Sociedad. A tight first affair was followed by two second-half goals. Since then, they’ve won 2-0 at Nantes with two surprise draws after that. A 1-1 home draw vs Rennes preceded a 0-0 draw at Monaco on Friday night.

PSG Team News

The big news is that Marquinhos and Danilo Pereira have shaken off injuries to boost the defence. Presnel Kimpembe and Milan Skriniar remain out injured.

Ousmane Dembele, Warren Zaire-Emery, Bradley Barcola, and Fabian Ruiz all had full or partial rests this past weekend and will start. Key man Kylian Mbappe only played 45 minutes at Monaco and will be fresh to impress in Spain.

PSG Motivation

PSG are not great travellers in this competition. Full focus and attention is on this match.

They will care about progressing. A draw would be perfectly acceptable to seal safe passage to the quarter-finals. They will control the game and not commit too many bodies forward.

Key Stats

Real Sociedad have lost 4 of their last 6 matches

Real Sociedad are winless in 7 home matches (DDDDLLL)

PSG are 20 matches unbeaten (14 wins, 6 draws)

PSG have won just 2 of their last 12 away Champions League matches

PSG have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 4 matches

Verdict

PSG should have far too much for the struggling Spanish club. They may not win in the Basque country, but they should avoid defeat and look certain to score.

Best Bet: PSG win/draw double chance + Over 1.5 goals at 2.00

Alternative Bet: PSG win at 2.75

Value Bet: PSG win and Mbappe to score at 4.43

James O'Connor

James is a football analyst who writes about the tactics of the PSL and English Premier League. He holds the UEFA A coaching licence and has previously worked for several clubs in analysis roles.Twitter: https://twitter.com/footy_analysis