Luis Enrique: “I think that when a team has a player of Kylian Mbappe’s calibre, the only thing you have to understand is that the more he plays, the better it is for everyone,” said PSG’s manager, upon being asked about his striker’s availability.
“We all benefit, that’s our goal, there’s no doubt about that. He could have played four days ago if it had been a final, but since that wasn’t the case I don’t think the risk was worth it. So he’s available and he’s been training like the rest of the players.”
Enrique refused to entertain a question regarding the possibility that this could be Mbappe’s final Champions League game at Parc des Princes as a PSG player. “No,” he said. “That’s not how I feel about it.”
Luis Enrique takes questions from the press ahead of tonight’s game. Photograph: Aurélien Meunier/PSG/Getty Images
Referee: Marco Guida
Referee’s assistants: Ciro Carbone and Giorgio Peretti
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 Enrique’s 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 Sociedad’s 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 Alguacil’s 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.
Rested for PSG’s 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, Kierna Tierney will be a conspicous absentee tonight as he recovers from the second hamstring tear he’s 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, Mikel Oyarzabal is Sociedad’s top scorer but he has sat out their past two games and is a major doubt for this evening.
Real Sociedad full-back Kieran Tierney is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. Photograph: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
It may be Valentine’s 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, it’s no surprise PSG are overwhelming favourites to win over two legs against comparative churchmice from neighbouring Spain.
However, given the French side’s 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.
