Strasbourg boosted their hopes of reaching next season’s Champions League with a 2-1 victory over a heavily rotated Paris Saint-Germain side on Saturday, just days before the Parisians host Arsenal in the return leg of their European semi-final.
PSG boss Luis Enrique made 10 changes from the team that secured a 1-0 away win over the Gunners midweek, fielding a youthful and inexperienced line-up at Stade de la Meinau. Only Portuguese midfielder João Neves retained his place in the starting XI.
The visitors fell behind in the 20th minute when a corner from Mamadou Sarr was inadvertently turned into his net by Lucas Hernandez.
Strasbourg doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time with a superb strike from Felix Lemarechal, who fired into the top corner after being set up by Habib Diarra.
Although Bradley Barcola pulled one back for PSG less than a minute into the second half, charging from his half before finishing clinically, Strasbourg held on to claim a vital win, extending their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
The result lifts Liam Rosenior’s side to fourth place in Ligue 1, at least temporarily, as they continue their surprise push for a Champions League place. They now sit just one point behind second-placed Marseille and level on goal difference with third-placed Nice, who edged Reims 1-0 on Friday.
Luis Enrique handed debuts and rare starts to several young players, including 17-year-olds Axel Tape and Ibrahim Mbaye, and later introduced 18-year-old Noham Kamara for his top-flight debut at halftime.
Ousmane Dembele, PSG’s top scorer with 33 goals in all competitions, was absent following an injury sustained against Arsenal and remains a doubt for Wednesday’s crucial return leg in Paris.
Despite having already sealed the Ligue 1 title, PSG have now suffered consecutive domestic defeats, their first losses in the league this season.
Strasbourg, who have not featured in Europe’s top competition since the 1979/80 season, remain in the hunt with Lille, Monaco, and Lyon all close behind ahead of their weekend fixtures.
