Champions League: Mbappe delivers for PSG, Immobile for Lazio as Sociedad and Bayern lose

France captain Kylian Mbappe was on target as PSG battled to a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the Champions League.

The last-16 tie is now in their control, ahead of the second leg in Spain next month, despite Sociedad arguably being the better side until Mbappe turned home from close range just before the hour mark after Marquinhos flicked on a corner.

PSG have been knocked out of the competition at this stage in five of the last seven seasons, as their wait for a first Champions League title goes on, and there was little to be impressed by with their start to the match.

Mbappe wasted a big early opportunity, after being played clean through by Ousmane Dembele, but Sociedad’s energy caused the hosts real problems. Take Kubo was a constant threat down the right, dragging a shot just wide, while Mikel Merino smacked an effort against the bar from distance late in the half.

The question was whether Sociedad could keep up their high press and relentless intensity; the answer was no. Mbappe was naturally the man to open the scoring, drifting into the perfect position to leave himself a simple finish.

The match turned from that moment onwards, PSG suddenly dominant in midfield and the energy seemingly sapped from the Sociedad legs.

It was no surprise then when the lead was doubled, Bradley Barcola skipped past Hamari Traore and poked a composed finish through the legs of goalkeeper Alex Remiro for his first Champions League goal.

Sociedad were unable to hit back in the final 20 minutes, as their run without a goal stretched to five matches for the first time since 1973. The hope for La Real now perhaps lies in PSG’s away record in Europe, with Luis Enrique’s side picking up one point on the road in the group-stage, conceding seven goals in the process.

Elsewhere, Ciro Immobile converted a penalty to give Lazio a precious 1-0 lead over 10-man Bayern Munich, as Dayot Upamecano saw red in this Champions League Round of 16 tie.

The second leg will be at the Allianz Arena in Munich on March 5 and Upamecano will be suspended.

Mattia Zaccagni was injured and Gil Patric was only fit for the bench, but Matias Vecino pulled out in the warm-up too, so Danilo Cataldi stepped in at the last minute. Bayern were coming off a heavy 3-0 defeat to Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen that left them five points adrift, so confidence was low. Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies, Bouna Sarr, Konrad Laimer, and former Juventus talent Kingsley Coman missed the trip.

Harry Kane scuffed off target from a very promising position in the opening minutes, while a Luis Alberto right-foot scorcher was not far off the near top corner from the edge of the area and Alessio Romagnoli’s header easy for the goalkeeper.

Leroy Sane fired wide after a complicated free-kick routine, but Jamal Musiala turned just over from an excellent position after a well-worked passing move that included two back-heel flicks.

Lazio had the only shot on target of the first half and got another straight after the restart, as Luis Alberto’s inspired pass sent Isaksen through, only for him to prod the finish straight at on-rushing Manuel Neuer.

Elseid Hysaj limped off after a knock to the ankle, but the game changed in the  67 minutes when Immobile went on a mazy run through a crowd of players and rolled it across for Isaksen, who was wiped out by Upamecano. The referee awarded a penalty and also a red card, as Upamecano caught Isaksen studs-up on the inside of the ankle.

Immobile kept his cool to convert, sending Neuer the wrong way to roll it into the near bottom corner and give Lazio the lead against 10-man Bayern Munich. Maurizio Sarri didn’t see it, as he looked the other way.

It was Immobile’s ninth goal in just 12 career Champions League appearances for Lazio.

Manuel Lazzari charged down a Kane effort and Felipe Anderson could’ve made it 2-0, but wanted an extra touch and allowed former Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae to make the block.

Pedro also failed to make the most of a promising move by firing straight at Neuer, as it ended without Bayern getting a single shot on target.