Meeting in unknown land. By having finished second in its group, behind Borussia Dortmund but ahead of Milan and Newcastle, PSG could have found opponents it knows by heart in the round of 16 of the Champions League, from Bayern to Barça, including Real or Manchester City. Finally, Luis Enrique’s players will face a club they have never encountered in the European Cup. And for good reason, Real Sociedad is not really a regular in continental games, and even less in the C1. The Basque club is only competing in the final phase of the most prestigious European competition for the third time in its history, with an elimination in the round of 16 against Lyon in 2004 and an exit in the group stage in 2013.
Clearly, Real Sociedad represented the most affordable potential opponent for Paris, which itself was a scarecrow among the second-placed teams. To those who were worried about a complicated draw to come, Luis Enrique said this after Dortmund (1-1) last Wednesday: “None of the teams who finished first will want to meet PSG… You can ask them “. He was not wrong, he who had asked his players to slow down at the end of the match at the Westfalenstadion in order to ensure qualification, when one more goal would have allowed them to finish first in the group and a defeat would have been synonymous with play-offs in the Europa League. “The best decision of my career,” smiled the Spanish coach.
Except that for the San Sebastian club, there was no easy draw. Despite the uncertainties hanging over Paris Saint-Germain, collectively or individually, the Rouge et Bleu will start as favorites in the 8th, on February 13-14 and 20-21, 2024 at the Parc des Princes and on 5-6 and 12- March 13, in Anoeta. Remember that the final will take place at Wembley on Saturday June 1st. One thing is certain, at least for Luis Enrique: PSG “will be much stronger in February”. It would be better, in order to avoid an elimination which would be experienced as a disaster and a professional error.
And for good reason, only the most fervent La Liga fans are able to name more than three players from Real Sociedad, where the stars are Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal or Martín Zubimendi, but also the Japanese nugget Takefusa Kubo. Kylian Mbappé and company will also come across some well-known faces in France, former Rennes captain Hamari Traoré, ex-Angevin hopeful Mohamed-Ali Cho and of course French defender but Spanish international Robin Le Normand. The favorite PSG, yes, obviously. PSG already in the quarterfinals? Of course not. And it’s not just excess confidence that threatens Luis Enrique’s men. Those of Imanol Alguacil play one of the most attractive footballs in Spain, with great intensity in the middle, from the chest, and they will have absolutely nothing to lose. No one will imagine the current sixth in La Liga eliminating the French champions in the spring. But no one imagined the Basque club finishing at the top of their group, ahead of the European vice-champions of Inter Milan…
In any case, Paris-SG has plenty of work to do between now and the 8th round. Checkered performances for Gigio Donnarumma, the Mbappé case and his new positioning in the axis which questions, lack of impact in the middle, attack lacking address, lack of experience… Certainly, the Rouge et Bleu are in top of the championship and qualified for the round of 16, and therefore in the nails. But there is work, a lot of work for Luis Enrique. “There are 11 new players, new staff, new campus… Everything is new,” pleads the Spanish technician. And added: “I’ve been coaching at the highest level for 12 years and all my teams are progressing over time.” To have real ambitions in C1, it will be necessary to progress a lot. Before that, PSG will already have to maintain its position and assume its status as favorite against Real Sociedad in the round of 16. Status which puts maximum pressure on the shoulders of the Parisians, who have no other choice but to pass, a bit like Manchester City against FC Copenhagen.
The complete draw for the round of 16: Porto (Por)-Arsenal (Eng)Naples (Ita)-Barça (Esp)PSG (Fra)-Real Sociedad (Esp) Inter Milan (Ita)-Atlético Madrid (Esp)PSV Eindhoven ( P-B)-Borussia Dortmund (All)Lazio Rome (Ita)-Bayern Munich (All)FC Copenhagen (Dan)-Manchester City (Eng)RB Leipzig (All)-Real Madrid (Esp)
