Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) beat Real Sociedad 2-0 at home in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg at dawn on Thursday (15). French starlet Kylian McBarbie scored twice to become the first player since 1957 to score in 10 consecutive UEFA Europa League home games, a feat that surpassed even two soccer legends, Lionel Messi and Cairo, and is undoubtedly the best proof of a new generation of Ballon d'Or winners.
PSG started the game on a positive note, with Fabian Pena, Mai Babi, Ashraf and Bagona firing on goal, but none of them could break through. Real Sociedad were not to be outdone, and late in the first half, Mikiel Marino's long-distance shot came close to converting the score, but the ball hit the crossbar.
As the match resumed, PSG's offense got sharper and sharper. In the 58th minute, Oswin Nidibili sent a precise corner kick, which was met by a second header from Marquinhos Goliath, and McBarbee easily broke through to open the game. He then had another long range shot that hit the crossbar. By the 70th minute, PSG added a second goal, as Fabien Penna's excellent pass allowed 21-year-old starlet Bakona to complete the scoring, and the 2-0 scoreline announced the birth of PSG's two-goal home record in UEFA knockout matches since March 2020, and the Ligue 1 giants' prospects for advancement are bright.
The man of the match, McBarbie, has contributed 44 goals and 26 assists in 68 games in the UEFA Europa League, surpassing Real Madrid star Rohr to become the second highest scoring 25 year old in UEFA Europa League history, behind Lionel Messi's record of 59 goals. In addition, McBarbie has contributed 38 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions this season, including 31 goals and seven assists, making him the highest goal scorer in Europe's top five leagues this season.
