Key events
Kieran Tierney interview: Despite having his season on loan at Real Sociedad from Arsenal interrupted by a couple of hamstring injuries, the Glaswegian is having the time of his life in San Sebastian, where it seems he could not be happier. Words: Sid Lowe.
Luis Enrique: âI think that when a team has a player of Kylian Mbappeâs calibre, the only thing you have to understand is that the more he plays, the better it is for everyone,â said PSGâs manager, upon being asked about his strikerâs availability.
âWe all benefit, thatâs our goal, thereâs no doubt about that. He could have played four days ago if it had been a final, but since that wasnât the case I donât think the risk was worth it. So heâs available and heâs been training like the rest of the players.â
Enrique refused to entertain a question regarding the possibility that this could be Mbappeâs final Champions League game at Parc des Princes as a PSG player. âNo,â he said. âThatâs not how I feel about it.â
Tonight’s match officials
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Referee: Marco Guida
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Refereeâs assistants: Ciro Carbone and Giorgio Peretti
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Fourth official: Fabio Maresca
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Video Assistant Referees: Paolo Valeri
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Sociedad line-ups
PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Danilo Pereira, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Zaire Emery, Fabian, Vitinha, Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Barcola.
Subs: Navas, Ugarte, Goncalo Ramos, Asensio, Hernandez, Muani, Mukiele, Carlos Soler, Ethan Mbappe, Mayulu, Tenas.
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Galan, Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino, Kubo, Andre Silva, Barrenetxea.
Subs: Zakharyan, Marrero, Gonzalez, Olasagasti, Umar, Pacheco, Turrientes, Magunacelaya, Marin, Fraga, Aramburu.
Form guide: Since scraping through to the knockout stages of the Champions League on goal difference courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions and came from behind to beat Lille and open an 11-point gap at the top of Ligue 1 last time out. Luis Enriqueâs side are currently on a 15-match unbeaten run but have gone of the Champions League to Spanish opposition in five of the past six seasons.
Currently sitting seventh in La Liga, nine points of the Champions League places, Real Sociedadâs form has been far less impressive since a scoreless draw at Inter ensured they finished top of Group D and advanced to the last 16. Imanol Alguacilâs side have struggled for any kind of consistency since then, winning four and drawing six of their 12 games in the interim. More worryingly, they have failed to trouble the scoreboard operator in any of their past four matches.
Early team news
Rested for PSGâs win against Lille despite having recovered from a heel injury, Kylian Mbappe is expected to make his return tonight for the first ever meeting between these teams. Luis Enrique will, however, be without Milan Skriniar, Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe Lyvin Kurzawa and Sergio Rico, who are all sidelined with injury.
On loan at Real Sociedad from Arsenal, Kieran Tierney will be a conspicous absentee tonight as he recovers from the second hamstring tear heâs suffered since moving to the Basque country. Sheraldo Becker, Carlos Fernandez, Aihen Munoz and Alvaro Ordriozola are also expected to miss out. With 13 goals to his name this season, skipper Mikel Oyarzabal is Sociedadâs top scorer but he has sat out their past two games and is a major doubt for this evening.
R16: Paris Saint-Germain v Real Sociedad
It may be Valentineâs night in Paris but there is unlikely to be much romance in the air as Paris Saint-Germain welcome Real Sociedad to the French capital for the first leg of this Champions League round of 16 tie.
Still chasing the elusive European title their Qatari owners crave, the state-owned French champions have been pitted against the Basque side from the picturesque city of San Sebastien in one of the more intriguing match-ups of this round.
Given the bottomless financial resources Luis Enrique has at his disposal, itâs no surprise PSG are overwhelming favourites to win over two legs against comparative churchmice from neighbouring Spain.
However, given the French sideâs penchant for blunderbussing themselves in both feet during the knockout stages of this tournament, it would be no massive surprise to see them come a cropper, or at the very least make life difficult for themselves. Kick-off at Parc des Princes is at 8pm (GMT), but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
