Real Sociedad vs PSG predictions: Basque hosts should go for broke
- Real Sociedad have not kept a clean sheet in six attempts
- PSG have failed to score in one of their last 14 games
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score & Over 2.5 goals
Paris Saint-Germain seized the initiative in their Champions League last-16 tie with Real Sociedad in last month's first leg, running out 2-0 winners in the French capital.
However, it was not without alarm as Sociedad's Mikel Merino hit the bar with the scoreline still goalless, and the Basque outfit have nothing to lose and everything to gain in Tuesday's second meeting.
Team news
Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil made sweeping changes for Saturday's loss at Sevilla, and he should welcome back a host of regulars. Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal, Robin Le Normand, and Takefusa Kubo were all unused substitutes in that 3-2 defeat and should return to the hosts' starting 11.
Alvaro Odriozola, Martin Merquelanz, Aihen Munoz, and Carlos Fernandez are all sidelined, however.
Defenders Milan Skriniar, Presnel Kimpembe and Danilo Pereira are all out for PSG, who could also be without Marco Asensio in San Sebastian.
However, Marquinhos should be fit to start at the heart of the visitors' defence.
The stats
Sociedad have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous six.
La Real have lost only three of 17 home matches this season, but they have not won at the Anoeta since beating Sevilla in La Liga at the end of November.
After an inconsistent first few months of the season on their travels, PSG are unbeaten in 10 matches on the road, winning seven times.
However, they picked up just one away point in the group stage, losing 4-1 at Newcastle, 2-1 in Milan and drawing 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund.
And the French champions have a wretched recent away record in the Champions League, triumphing in only two of their last 12 European matches on the road.
Prediction
PSG take a handy two-goal buffer to northern Spain on Tuesday, but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels in San Sebastian.
Success on their Champions League travels has been few and far between for the French champions in the last few years, with only victories at Maccabi Haifa and Juventus to show for their efforts since May 2021.
Real Sociedad's recent slump certainly gives PSG a chance of putting that record a little straighter, but La Real are a thoroughly decent side when on song, and they are rarely beaten on home soil.
Had the Basque side not been so poor in front of goal in Paris last month, none of their nine efforts were on target, PSG would not be sitting as comfortably and with little to lose, the hosts should go for broke on Tuesday.
Since losing at the Parc des Princes, Sociedad have beaten Mallorca 2-1 in La Liga, drawn with the islanders 1-1 in the Copa del Rey and lost league games against Villarreal 3-1 and Sevilla 3-2.
With that in mind, a bet on both teams scoring in a match featuring at least three goals could be the way to go.
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