Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-2 victory against Real Sociedad on Tuesday evening. However, the triumph comes with a setback as Achraf Hakimi faces suspension for the first leg of the upcoming quarter-final.
In the second leg of the round of 16, PSG demonstrated their prowess by securing another win, sealing a 2-0 aggregate victory against Real Sociedad.
Despite the overall success, the absence of Hakimi in the upcoming crucial stage of the competition poses a challenge for the Parisians.
Hakimi, the Moroccan right-back, was already serving a suspension prior to the round of 16 second leg. Despite contributing to PSG’s victory against Real Sociedad, receiving a yellow card in the process proved costly for Hakimi. The accumulated cards during the current Champions League campaign now render him ineligible for the first leg of the quarter-finals.
This suspension stems from Hakimi’s earlier caution during PSG’s match against Newcastle, where they faced a 4-1 defeat, and another during the home victory against AC Milan (3-0). The yellow card received against Real Sociedad in the recent match added to the count, triggering the suspension for the upcoming Champions League fixture.
Notably, Hakimi incurred the latest sanction following a challenge in the 41st minute, involving a heavy tackle on Real Sociedad’s left-back, Javi Galan. PSG will now have to navigate the quarter-finals without the services of Hakimi in the crucial opening leg.
The setback puts pressure on PSG’s defensive strategies, requiring adjustments ahead of the quarter-final clash in their pursuit of UEFA Champions League glory.
