For a return to business, the poster really looked good. A small dot separated the Paris Saint-Germainimpressive reigning champion and leader, of one of its runners-up, the Racing Club de Strasbourg, when approaching this shock to raise the curtain of the 8th day of Ligue 1.
Beyond the photograph of the ranking, it is the balance of power between two young and offensive teams which reinforced the appeal of this meeting, like the distance match between Luis Enrique and Liam Rosenior. The first remained faced with a real massacre, with the absences of Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©, Joao Neves or Fabian Ruiz, when his counterpart had to do without his trigger Emanuel Emegha, replaced brilliantly by JoaquĂn Panichelli.
The Parisians therefore approached this meeting with a starting eleven that was still well tinkered with. Lucas Beraldo, Lucas Hernandez, Lee Kang-in and Warren Zaire-Emery were lined up at kick-off. Numerous changes which have not altered the quality of play of the European champions, but which have weakened their balance. Désiré Doué made his return. And for a long time we saw him more than the others.
After stifling pressure at the start of the match, the French international quickly took the light by serving Bradley Barcola with a superb combination for the opener (1-0, 4th). Paris seemed launched like a TGV, but this chameleon team from Strasbourg has quite astonishing resources. With a very high block, Liam Rosenior's men were able to take advantage of the defensive generosity of this experimental PSG to reverse the situation for the first time.
Top scorer in the championship, Panichelli confirmed his revelation status by scoring a double, in his clinical scoring style (26th, 49th). In the meantime, Diego Moreira had also cooled the Park by exploiting a sublime inspiration from Barco for the 2-1 goal (41st).
PSG didn't give up
Backed by the wall, the Parisians threw all their strength into battle, driven by their golden youth, once again. Mayulu and Ndjantou brought new life in the last half hour. Unhappy until then, Ramos, for his part, had the merit of transforming a penalty obtained by Doué (2-3, 58th). The goal of the revolt before that of the equalizer by Mayulu on a slightly confused action (3-3, 79th).
The smell of the knockout grew stronger as the minutes ticked by, but all these beautiful people did not manage to decide between themselves, despite ammunition on each side in a “ping-pong” end to the match. As pleasant as ever, this PSG does not lose its identity, but it still loses a few points at the level of Ligue 1. It is also the story of its season. Strasbourg, for its part, confirms its scratchy status at the end of an evening which will undoubtedly remain a great advertisement for French football.
