_1_
_Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 20, 01/02/2026_
Nuno Mendes gave PSG a crucial away win against Strasbourg to climb back into first place at the expense of RC Lens. Guéla Doué cancelled out Senny Mayulu’s opener, btu it was not enough to prevent Gary O’Neil’s first loss as Strasbourg head coach.
#### The match
Strasbourg’s high line and risk-taking approach exposed them to early PSG chances, but PSG’s youthful trio – Mayulu, Barcola and Mbaye – fluffed their lines in the final third. Nevertheless, the first clear chance of the game fell to Strasbourg with Diego Moreira firing low at Safonov’s near post.
The Russian goalkeeper would be called to the rescue again as Marquinhos was adjuged to have handballed Joaquin Panichelli’s attempt. The Argentine stepped up at the spotkick, but his effort was remarkably saved by Safonov.
Two minutes later, PSG opened the scoring in benefiting from a Mamadou Sarr mistake. The Chelsea loanee took his time in dealing with a through ball from Nuno Mendes, but the AFCON winner’s badly-timed clearance could only hit Bradley Barcola. The ball kindly fell to Senny Mayulu, who made no mistake from close range.
Strasbourg wasted no time in rueing the missed opportunity to pull ahead. Panichelli alerted Chilwell on his left flank, and the England international sent a great cross into the path of the onrushing Guéla Doué, whose half-volley fizzed between Safonov’s legs.
The remainder of the first half was closely-contested between the two sides, although PSG dominated possession, their opponents won way more duels than Luis Enrique’s men.
The Spaniard’s half-time speech seemed to have worked as PSG dominated proceedings. Despite the introductions of Ousmane Dembélé, Lee Kang-in and Désiré Doué, PSG lacked urgency and variation to unsettle Strasbourg’s disciplined low block
With time running out, tempers flared in the final 20 minutes. First, Julio Enciso seemed baffled by O’Neil’s decision to replace him. And a couple of minutes later, Achraf Hakimi caught Panichelli’s left foot with a clumsy challenge. After initially booking the Moroccan, Eric Wattelier upgraded his decision to a red card.
With a man down, Warren Zaïre-Emery was tasked to replace Hakimi as PSG’s right-back, and it worked wonders. The in-form France international delivered an inch-perfect for his opposite number – Nuno Mendes – to head home unmarked.
Les Parisiens held on to their slender lead and climbed back into first place. They will host Marseille next week for the Ligue 1 Classique.
#### PSG player ratings:
**Matvey Safonov – 7**
It’s another remarkable performance from the Russian, who saved his fifth consecutive spotkick following his Intercontinental Cup shoot-out heroics in December. With Safonov between the sticks, PSG defenders look more serene than they do with Lucas Chevalier.
**Nuno Mendes – 6**
**Willian Pacho – 5**
**Marquinhos – 4**
**Achraf Hakimi – 3**
The Moroccan full-back is yet to return to his best, and it showed tonight. Ineffective in going forward and Strasbourg’s equaliser came from his right flank. Sent off for a clumsy challenge on Panichelli’s left foot and now set to miss Le Classique.
**Warren Zaïre-Emery – 7**
Since Hakimi’s injury in October, the PSG Academy product has regularly featured in Luis Enrique’s plans, be it on the right or in midfield, and Zaïre-Emery can do it all. He delivered an industrious shift at the heart of the pitch and gave the killer blow in assisting Nuno Mendes.
**João Neves – 5**
**Vitinha – 6**
**Ibrahim Mbaye – 4**
**Senny Mayulu – 5**
**Bradley Barcola – 4**
#### Selected Strasbourg player ratings:
**Mamadou Sarr – 4**
The Chelsea loanee might have played his final game with Strasbourg before his reported recall to the Blues. The AFCON winner with Senegal will rue his first-half mistake that led to Senny Mayulu’s opener.
**Diego Moreira – 6**
**Ben Chilwell – 5**
GFFN | Bastien Cheval