Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad, Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 14/02/2024
Calendar icon Updated 11 Mar 07:10

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad, Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 14/02/2024

Kai Edvard Iliev Kai Edvard Iliev

Odds via Tonybet

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real SociedadFebruary 14, 2024, 3:00 PM ET
Paris Saint-Germain odds-148
Real Sociedad odds+440
Draw+285
Over\Under2.5 -106\-112

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad. Shape of the Teams

It is rare for visiting teams to expose Paris Saint-Germain’s weaknesses at the Parc des Princes. However, Real Sociedad, affected by recent injuries that have caused a dip in form, faces this daunting task ahead of their clash with PSG. 

The silver lining for Real Sociedad is that the second leg will be at home in San Sebastián, where they could hope for a better outcome. The greater challenge is to prevent a disastrous first-leg scoreline that could jeopardize their chances in the return fixture.

Read more: Real Sociedad vs Paris Saint-Germain, Prediction  05/03/2024

Unfortunately for manager Imanol Alguacil, two of his most important full-backs are unavailable. Aihen Muñoz is sidelined for the entire season as the academy graduate suffered the feared ACL injury, a plague across football levels lately.

Arsenal loanee Kieran Tierney was brought in to fill the gap, providing a different, more traditional profile. While the Brit was having a relatively solid season, he also suffered an injury – which leaves him out for a while. 

Real Sociedad’s board answered by finding a replacement in Atlético’s Javi Galán, who had been underutilized by Diego Simeone. The Spaniard is expected to start tonight. 

Real Sociedad desperately needs a morale boost. Mikel Oyarzabal’s participation against PSG is doubtful, and the team’s last win feels like a distant memory. Sociedad was surprised last weekend by Osasuna (0-1) while leaving the previous games with repeated draws. The last victory of the White and Blues was in mid-January against Celta Vigo.

On the opponent’s side, everything seems pretty much straightforward. An early run from Farioli’s Nice saw many thinking Paris might just face a genuine challenge for this season’s title. But fast-forward a few months, and the Parisians are 11 points ahead of Nice, who are still in second place. 

A key player for PSG in this context is Kang-in Lee, who has emerged as their most in-form midfielder, an important factor against Real Sociedad. 

Paris navigated through the so-called “Group Of Death”, facing tough competition from AC Milan among others and barely managing to advance. The French need to qualify for the next round to demonstrate their improvement and adaptability.

The early UCL games showed a side that forgot about controlling the midfield. Have they addressed this issue? The game tomorrow night will quickly answer that question.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad Match Info

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad, Odds

In theory, this game should not be as one-sided as the betting odds suggest it to be. PSG has had its fair share of midfield struggles this season despite the talent of Zaïre-Emery. 

Form plays a crucial role, and PSG’s current momentum might tip the scales in their favour, especially considering Real Sociedad’s recent hesitance in crucial moments.

Kang-in Lee’s development and impact on PSG’s game transitions have also been noteworthy. The South Korean attacker has been adding a layer of depth to PSG’s gameplay. 

And yet, the greatest question is how Paris Saint-Germain will break Real Sociedad’s block, which is arguably more stable than Paris’ attack. It mostly boils down to which counter-attack will lead to the winner, as Real Sociedad showed a flawless UCL run – and yet, it could have scored more. 

The lack of goals is a reason for concern for Sociedad, as witnessed in their recent La Liga games. I believe the lack of UCL experience among some key players might lead to some level of intimidation at the Parc des Princes,  yet an outright scoring spree seems unlikely.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad Betting Tip

While easy bets would be on high-profile names like Kylian Mbappé or Ousmane Dembélé for PSG, or even Umar Sadiq on Real Sociedad’s side – it’s Ander Barrenetxea from Sociedad who could emerge as a pivotal figure in this clash.  

Overlooked by many, Barrenetxea has vastly improved his finishing skills. He has been a major threat in the final third for the Basque team — an aspect crucial against PSG, a team known for vulnerabilities against quick counter-attacks.

Real Sociedad, adept at absorbing pressure and exploiting the opponent’s defensive lapses, might find the perfect disruptor in Barrenetxea to challenge PSG’s rest defence.

Martin Zubimendi, another homegrown star of La Real, adds to Real Sociedad’s tactical advantage. Despite interest from big clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona, he preferred to sign a contract extension. 

Zubimendi is very methodical in how he reads the opponent, intercepting attacks and starting the build-up by himself from deep to prepare the ground for Real Sociedad’s attacks. His support will be of major help for the forward line – which is why I think that Barrenetxea might surprise Europe tomorrow night.

Disclaimer: Odds are accurate at the time of posting and subject to change. Please verify the latest odds on our platform before betting.

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