PSG Fight Back To Beat Strasbourg And Go Second In Ligue 1

Dembele and Doue come off bench to help PSG past Strasbourg test

RC Strasbourg came within 45 minutes of making it four league games unbeaten, but gave up a half-time lead to lose 3-1 at Stade de la Meinau against a Paris Saint-Germain side who have moved up to second in Ligue 1 as a result.

Dembele misses penalty then inspires PSG comeback in 3-1 win at Strasbourg...

RC Strasbourg were 45 minutes away from making it four league games unbeaten, but surrendered a half-time lead to lose 3-1 at the Stade de la Meinau against a Paris Saint-Germain side who moved up to second in Ligue 1 as a result.

It was a lively start from both sides with early chances at each end, and only PSG's Maghnes Akliouche will know how he missed an absolute sitter when he fired wide with the goal gaping.

The visitors soon began to put sustained pressure on the Strasbourg back four, who were indebted to Filip Jorgensen after his point-blank save from Ferran Torres' towering header.

Against the run of play, the hosts took the lead in the 17th minute as Giovanni Reyna beat Matvey Safonov at his near post with a low strike.

By the half-hour mark both sides had six efforts at goal, though only three in total had been on target. Fabio Balde should certainly have done better than dragging his shot across goal when well placed.

The match began to swing from end to end, and even if the finishing was not up to the expected standard, it was still an absorbing watch. As half-time approached, PSG had seen 78.4% of the ball in the previous 15 minutes yet were still unable to make that dominance count.

PSG were on the front foot as soon as the whistle blew to start the second half, although Strasbourg's defence, and Pape Doucouré in particular, stood firm against the onslaught.

A stunning one-handed save down to his left from Safonov kept out Conrad Harder's goal-bound header, and that gave his side the impetus to take the game to their hosts. With an hour played, however, they still had not managed to beat Jorgensen.

Strasbourg came close to extending their lead when Gessime Yassine, Harder and Jaylan Mitchell all tested Safonov in quick succession, but with 20 minutes to play, PSG were handed a lifeline when VAR spotted a handball from Diop.

Second-half substitute Ousmane Dembele squandered the opportunity when he inexplicably dragged the penalty wide of Jorgensen's right-hand post.

Dembele soon made amends, though, as his pinpoint cross found an unmarked Illia Zabarnyi to tap in the equaliser, before the current Ballon d'Or winner drilled home a late second and Desire Doue made the game safe in stoppage time with a simple finish.

PSG complete the comeback to bag 3 points 🔙💪 https://t.co/QJNx4VTOyy

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 17, 2026

The result means Strasbourg still have not kept a clean sheet in 26 head-to-head meetings (W2, D6, L18), while PSG head into their Champions League fixture with Barcelona after making life very difficult for themselves.

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