Goals, intensity, class gestures, sublime collective actions. The clash between Racing Club de Strasbourg and Paris Saint-Germain this Sunday evening, to close the 20th day of Ligue 1, kept all its promises. Held in check by Newcastle in the middle of the week, the capital club had nevertheless started in the best possible way on the lawn of Meinau. Organized in 4-3-3 with Safonov in goal and an attack made up of Mbaye, Barcola and Mayulu, Luis Enrique’s men initially relied on their last defense. After a handball from Marquinhos in his own area and under the eyes of Chevalier, the Russian goalkeeper of PSG pulled out all the stops by repelling Panichelli’s powerful penalty (21st).
In the following sequence, the Rouge et Bleu found the fault… On a harmless ball, Barcola, launched in depth, took advantage of Sarr’s completely missed recovery to counter the leather. Opportunistic, Mayulu finally finished upwind with a cross shot from the left (0-1, 22nd). Stunned but far from resigned, Strasbourg went on the attack again and reacted straight away. At the end of an exceptional collective movement, Guéla Doué, served by Chilwell, revived his team under the eyes of his brother Désiré (1-1, 27th). A breathtaking duel which resulted in a draw at the break.
Hakimi excluded, Zaire-Emery brilliant
Upon returning from the locker room, the debates were still as lively as ever. If Mbaye gave way to Doué, PSG struggled against the grinta of Strasbourg but continued to push. Found in the area, Doué rolled in perfectly but the ball flirted with the opposite post of Penders (56th). On the next action, Hakimi, served behind by Mendes, missed the target (57th). Determined to pocket the three points, Luis Enrique then launched Kang-In Lee and Dembélé but the score still did not change. If Doué continued to make differences in his lane, the RCSA was rigorous on the defensive level.
Little by little, the pace dropped and the Parisians suffered another blow of fate. Guilty of a nasty sole on Panichelli, Hakimi was excluded after viewing the images (75th). In the last quarter of an hour, Strasbourg tried to take advantage of its numerical superiority but came up against the Ile-de-France defense or lacked precision in the last gesture. And what was supposed to happen happened… On a perfect cross from Zaire-Emery, Mendes appeared at the far post and deceived the Alsatian goalkeeper with a header (1-2, 81st). A liberating goal allowing PSG to secure a new victory (2-1). In the standings, the Parisians regain the lead with two lengths ahead of RC Lens. Strasbourg remains 7th.
