PSG beat Strasbourg to reclaim Ligue 1 lead

Youngster Senny Mayulu's first Ligue 1 goal set PSG on their way before Marco Asensio, Bradley Barcola and Lee Kang-in also found the net in the rain at the Parc des Princes. Sekou Mara and Pape Diong were on target for Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg, but the defeat means the side from Alsace have still never won away to PSG in 34 attempts. Monaco's 0-0 draw at home to Lille on Friday had given PSG the opportunity to go back to the summit and they seized the opportunity despite coach Luis Enrique rotating his squad with an eye on Tuesday's Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven.

Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz and captain Marquinhos were among the players left on the bench with Mayulu one of five players aged 20 or under in PSG's starting XI. The 18-year-old hit the post before he opened the scoring on 18 minutes after a one-two with Barcola, and Mayulu then missed a great chance to add another before half-time, blazing over when clean through.

Asensio bundled in the second goal just after the restart, following in to score after Desire Doue's shot had been saved, but Mara pulled one back with his first goal since joining Strasbourg from Southampton. PSG had a penalty awarded for a foul on Barcola overturned by the referee following a VAR review, but Barcola then prodded in his team's third goal, and a seventh of the season for the division's top scorer.

A Saidou Sow own goal that would have made it 4-1 was disallowed for offside but South Korean star Lee swept in a Joao Neves assist for PSG's fourth late on, before Diong made the final score 4-2 from close range. Earlier Brest and Rennes drew 1-1 in a Brittany derby before Lens won 2-0 at Saint-Etienne to maintain their unbeaten record this season.

 

October 19, 2024