This Saturday evening, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 1-3 victory against Strasbourg at the Stade de la Meinau, as part of the 7th matchday of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season. Here are the “hits” and “lows” from this win.
The Hits
❤️ Dembélé refuses to let a setback define him
His missed penalty could have proven costly, but his reaction changed the course of the match. Brought on in the second half, Ousmane Dembélé provided the individual spark that Paris had been lacking, turning his influence into decisive moments:
- A cross for Zabarnyi’s equalizer in the 77th minute.
- A touch, a feint, and a left-footed strike to make it 2-1 in the 85th minute.
- A link-up play with Torres in the build-up to the third goal.
While the miss did happen, it certainly doesn’t sum up his performance. Dembélé kept asking for the ball and pushing to force a breakthrough.
Safonov keeps the win within reach
Before the offensive turnaround, it was essential to prevent Strasbourg from extending their lead. Safonov stepped up—notably saving a header from Harder in the 51st minute, and later denying both Yassine and Harder around the 67th minute.
Although beaten by a Reyna strike that took a deflection off Hernandez, the Russian goalkeeper didn’t let that opening goal derail his game. His interventions kept Paris in a match that could easily have slipped away long before the equalizer.
Substitutions provide a response
Luis Enrique turned to his key players to get the team back on the right track. While the initial substitutions didn’t solve every problem immediately, they gradually brought more control and attacking thrust to the side:
Vitinha stepped back into his role as the midfield playmaker.
Doué won the penalty—after his shot was blocked by a defender’s hand—and went on to score the third goal. Hakimi played a part in the sequence that led to the goal making it 2–1.
Beyond the case of Dembélé, several substitutes made a tangible contribution to the victory. The bench held the solutions; they simply had to be utilized.
The lows
😡 A defense that forces its goalkeeper to do too much work
The issue goes beyond the individual duel between Digne and Zabarnyi. Paris allowed Strasbourg to capitalize on lost possession, leading to dangerous situations even after substitutions were made. Notably, Hernandez was outmuscled by Harder on a header that had to be saved by Safonov.
Digne also delivered a good cross for Torres, while Zabarnyi scored the equalizer—nuances that should be noted in their individual assessments. Collectively, however, Paris relied far too heavily on its goalkeeper’s interventions to stay afloat.
Kvaratskhelia: minimal impact and a costly turnover
His loss of possession preceded Reyna’s opening goal. While this does not absolve the rest of the team from their defensive duties, it weighs negatively on his overall performance.
Kvaratskhelia did take part in a promising combination play with Dro before the break, but such moments were too infrequent for an attacker expected to be a driving force in this reshuffled side. Replaced by Dembélé, he failed to exert enough influence to help Paris overcome its struggles.
Nuno Mendes’s exit casts a shadow over the win
The sour note at the end of the match: Nuno Mendes, who had come on to bolster the left flank, sustained an injury during the play that led to the second goal and was forced to leave the pitch. With all substitutions used, Paris finished the match a man down.
This “flop” refers, of course, to the major setback suffered by PSG. With the match against Barcelona just days away, there is concern regarding the availability of a key player—though the severity of the injury remains to be seen.
