Despite two goals in advance, PSG got scared in the second half, losing control of the match, but was able to maintain its advantage to return to victory against Strasbourg (2-1).
23:35 – Good night
Thank you everyone for joining us to follow the opening match of the 20th day of League 1 between Strasbourg and Paris Saint-Germain.
23:30 – Realism without convincing, the match summary
We were watching for the Parisian reaction, a week after being caught by Brest at the Parc des Princes, and we were almost surprised. Everything could have been very different if Strasbourg had been as realistic as the cold that reigned at Meinau. With 20 shots, Patrick Vieira’s men had situations, from the first minute when Sahi Dion received a ball from Angelo at 6 meters and saw his attempt rebound on the shoulder of Donnarumma and again in added time, Sylla failing to give force to this free kick extended by a partner even though he was alone against the Italian goalkeeper of PSG. Two actions among others which did not end at the bottom and which allowed the French champion to return from Alsace with what he had come to seek: victory.
Because for its part, the Parisian club was not as generous. Mbappé however missed a penalty, brilliantly released by the firm left hand of Bellaarouch. For his first in Ligue 1, the young Moroccan goalkeeper, replacing Matz Sels, the former Alsatian captain who left the day before on the last day of the winter transfer window, already saw himself as the hero of the evening. He was punished after half an hour of play. Too confident in his recovery, he was blocked by Asensio. With a pass, the Spaniard transmitted to Mbappé, who only had to roll the ball 18 meters to send it into the empty goal. The French international can miss his target but not every time. From then on, the rhythm of the match changed. From crazy, he became purring, anesthetized by the newfound technical mastery of PSG. An effect amplified when upon returning from the locker room, the roles were reversed, the former Monegasque offering the goal to the former Real Madrid player after a lethal counter-attack illuminated by Ruiz’s direction.
However, the Strasbourg residents did not disarm, convinced by the example of Brest that a comeback was possible in the face of this less sovereign PSG. Carried by the percussion of Bakwa and Angelo as well as the volume of Diarra, they were rewarded when the first victoriously took back the center placed by the second. Then opened 20 minutes where PSG paradoxically accepted to suffer, cowering until conceding several opportunities to Sissoko, Sylla or Bakwa. Headers too timid and a point-blank shot too quick. Strasbourg had missed its chance and could say goodbye to its series of 6 games without defeat in Ligue 1.
For its part, PSG has confirmed the doubts that have accompanied it in recent weeks. Its sides are too permeable and its axis is not compact enough. Fortunately for him, his effectiveness makes it possible to disguise too intermittent technical mastery, a real problem with regard to the game project imagined by Luis Enrique. If this is enough in Ligue 1 where it is provisionally 9 points ahead of Nice (traveling to Brest, 3rd, editor’s note), not sure that this is the case in Champions League. PSG has 10 days to find its legs and its ideas.
23:20 – Asensio’s reaction
“It’s a good result with the three points and the victory against a very competitive team”indicated, Prime Videobriefly Marco Asensio, decisive passer for Mbappé in the first period and author of the second Parisian goal at Meinau.
23:15 – PSG puts pressure on the rankings
By winning in Strasbourg, PSG temporarily takes a 9-point lead at the top of Ligue 1. Dauphin, Nice will have their work cut out for them when they travel to Brest, third, to prevent the French champion from escaping.
23:06 – Bakwa’s reaction (Strasbourg)
After the match, Dilane Bakwa returned to Strasbourg’s narrow defeat at home against PSG. “There are a lot of regrets, we had the opportunities to score, from the first minute I think, and against this kind of team, if you don’t score, you are punished. It’s a shame because we did a good match. In the second half, we came back well, we pushed but it wasn’t enough”explained to Prime Video the Strasbourg resident, author of his team’s goal.
22:56 – Sissoko unscrews
At 25 meters in the middle, Sissoko takes his chance but his right shot escapes him. He hits the ball from the outside of the right and sends it wide to the side of the goal guarded by Donnarumma.
22:54 – Sylla close to equalizing
Guilbert extends the Strasbourg free kick into the Parisian area where it is extended by a header from a partner. Alone, Sylla pokes his head but his attempt is too timid and lacks power to worry Donnarumma. La Meinau believed in it.
22:53 – Nobody in the center
On the left side, Bakwa works Mukiele and rolls in a good cross that no partner is able to take into the Parisian area.
22:52 – Additional time: 6 minutes
There will be six minutes of added time in this second half between Strasbourg and PSG.
22:51 – Change for Strasbourg
In the 88th minute, Vieira made another change with the exit of Mwanga for the entry of Bechikh.
22:49 – Sissoko lacks strength
From the left side, Dakwa rolls in his free kick which Danilo pushes away with a header. It comes back to Guilbert, at the entrance to the area. The defender returns to the bell at 6 meters where Sissoko places his head but without managing to give it force. Donnarumma catches on his line.
22:48 – Strasbourg at the dry cleaners
The Strasbourgers feel that there is a move to play at the end of the match and press very high. It pays off with this ball recovered from Asensio’s feet near the surface. The Spaniard commits a foul and offers a good free kick.
22:48 – Mukiele enters
In the 86th minute, Soler gave up his place in the right lane of the PSG defense to let Mukiele enter.
22:46 – The combination does not work
The ball is messed up on the restart by PSG. Deminguet took advantage of this and found Emegha in the axis. The latter puts it back on Dakwa who in one touch plays in front on the right for Deminguet, who proposed a run. The pass is approximate.
22:45 – Diarra gives up his place
Author of a big match in volume, Diarra leaves the pitch and is replaced in the 82nd minute by Deminguet.
22:42 – Double change for PSG
In the 82nd minute, Luis Enrique made a double change with the departures of captain Marquinhos and Kolo Muani. They are replaced by Danilo and Gonçalo Ramos. The armband is given to Mbappé for the end of the match.
22:40 – Bakwa above
Angelo has changed sides and challenges Hernandez on the right. Getting back on his left foot, the Strasbourg winger manages to curl in a cross. Sissoko comes to compete with Marquinhos, who extends to Bakwa. Alone at the far post, the striker volleys with the left but his shot is too quick.
22:39 – Clever but well-read free kick
30 meters down the right axis, Senaya pokes a small ball behind the wall for Emegha. It’s a bit long and that benefits Donnarumma.
22:36 – The counter aborted
Following a Parisian free kick sent to the far post on the head of Ruiz, the delivery into the Strasbourg area is extended by Sissoko. Vieira’s players go on the counter and have a two against one to play. Angelo saw Emegha making the call in the middle and tried to pivot with one touch but it lacked precision and Asensio fell back to take the ball away from the Strasbourg striker.
22:35 – Sissoko intervenes on Hernandez
Hernandez enters the Strasbourg area from the left and is very close to having a shooting window but Sissoko makes a good return to cut him off, while Sylla contains him.
22:31 – Strasbourg close to equalizing!
Following Bakwa’s goal, Ruiz fired a powerful shot from outside the area and forced Bellaarouch to make a good save. Shortly after, Strasbourg failed to come back to the level. The same Ruiz has the ball stolen from his feet by Emegha 20 meters away. The Alsatian striker hooks to the right but drops behind his back to Mwanga whose shot forces Donnarumma to relax to his left. He pushes back on Emegha who crushes his attempt and allows the Italian goalkeeper to calm things down.
22:29 – Bakwa goal (1-2)
In the 68th minute, Strasbourg rekindled the flame of hope by reducing the score. On the right side, Senaya brushes her cross to the far post where Bakwa escapes Soler and deceives Donnarumma from close range.
22:28 – Mwanga doesn’t fit
Strasbourg passes from the right and Diarra serves as a relay, with his back to goal, to give Mwanga whose inside right flees the frame to the left.
22:26 – Bellaarouch in the air
Off-center on the left, 20 meters away, Vitinha curls his free kick into the Alsatian area where Bellaarouch unfolds his frame to catch it at the far post in the air.