Kylian Mbappé scored the opener as Paris Saint-Germain took a big step towards reaching the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday, February 14.
The mediocrity of PSG's first-half performance at the Parc des Princes may have had their supporters fearing another in a long line of disappointing results down the years in the Champions League knockout stages.
But Mbappé, who is expected to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, broke the deadlock from close range just before the hour mark. Bradley Barcola's well-taken goal in the 70th minute then made it 2-0 to give the French champions a comfortable cushion to take to Spain for the return early next month.
There was big pressure on PSG coming into this tie after they had gone out in the last 16 of the Champions League in five of the last seven seasons. Another early exit from the competition this season would be a monumental setback for the Qatar-owned club, especially as Real Sociedad were appearing in their first Champions League knockout tie in two decades.
They also made the trip to Paris having failed to score a goal while failing to win any of their last four games in all competitions.In addition to that, they were missing captain and top scorer Mikel Oyarzabal as he recovers from injury.
PSG, who gave a Champions League bow at left-back to 20-year-old Brazilian January signing Lucas Beraldo, were aiming to extend a run of 16 games unbeaten in all competitions stretching back to early November.
Meanwhile, Ciro Immobile gave Lazio a slender lead in their Champions League last 16 tie with under-fire Bayern Munich after netting the only goal in a 1-0 win in Wednesday's first leg.
Italy forward Immobile slotted home the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 69th minute at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to pile pressure on Bundesliga champions Bayern. The spot-kick was won by Gustav Isaksen who was clattered by Dayot Upamecano with a rash tackle which earned the France defender a red card and left Bayern a man down for the final 20 minutes.
Bayern are a club in a slump and a toothless display in the Italian capital will do nothing to help embattled coach Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel is under pressure as Wednesday's defeat came after a 3-0 thumping at Bayer Leverkusen which left Bayern five points off the pace in the German title race.
The Champions League looked like Bayern's last chance at a trophy this season but Immobile put those hopes in serious doubt.