(Reuters)
On May 3, 2025, RC Strasbourg secured a remarkable 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Stade de la Meinau in a Ligue 1 encounter. Despite PSG having already clinched the league title, this defeat marked their second consecutive loss, following a 3–1 setback against Nice. (Sofascore, Reuters)
Match Overview
PSG, focusing on their upcoming Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal, fielded a largely rotated squad. Only João Neves retained his place from the team that defeated Arsenal 1–0 earlier in the week. Notably, four players born in 2006 or later—Warren Zaïre-Emery, Senny Mayulu, Axel Tape, and Ibrahim Mbaye—were included in the starting lineup. (talkSPORT, Fox Sports)
Strasbourg capitalized on PSG’s changes, taking the lead in the 20th minute when a corner from Mamadou Sarr was inadvertently turned into his own net by PSG defender Lucas Hernández. Just before halftime, Félix Lemarechal doubled Strasbourg’s advantage with a stunning long-range effort. (Fox Sports)
PSG responded swiftly after the break, with Bradley Barcola embarking on a solo run from midfield and finishing calmly to reduce the deficit. Despite increased pressure and several opportunities, PSG couldn’t find an equalizer, resulting in a 2–1 loss. (Reuters)
Implications
This defeat ended PSG’s 39-match unbeaten away streak in Ligue 1, the longest in Europe’s top five leagues. Strasbourg’s victory propelled them to fourth place in the standings, level on points with third-placed Nice and just one point behind second-placed Marseille, intensifying their push for a Champions League spot. (Reuters)
PSG manager Luis Enrique acknowledged the team’s performance, stating, “It was a very high-level match. All the objectives I had in mind came to fruition, apart from the result.” He emphasized the need to recover and focus on the crucial Champions League match against Arsenal. (Reuters)
For Strasbourg, under the guidance of former Hull City manager Liam Rosenior, this victory extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches and kept their European ambitions alive. (talkSPORT)
