Dembélé Inspires PSG Comeback Win Over Strasbourg

For 76 minutes at the Meinau, Strasbourg had held Paris Saint-Germain at arm’s length. Giovanni Reyna’s early finish had given the home side a deserved lead, but Ousmane Dembélé changed the rhythm after his introduction and PSG left Alsace with a 3-1 Ligue 1 win.

The move

Dembélé came on in the 63rd minute for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with Achraf Hakimi replacing João Neves in the same stoppage. Paris had already brought on Vitinha, Désiré Doué and Nuno Mendes shortly after the interval, and their pressure eventually broke Strasbourg’s resistance.

The turning point arrived after a difficult moment for Dembélé from the penalty spot. PSG were awarded a penalty following a VAR review in the 70th minute, after Pape Diop handled a blocked Doué effort in the area. Dembélé sent his attempt narrowly wide of the left post.

He responded seven minutes later. From a PSG corner, Dembélé delivered the cross for Illia Zabarnyi to score from close range and level the match at 1-1. Dembélé then put the visitors ahead in the 85th minute, finishing low with his left foot from the centre of the box.

Doué made the result safe in the third minute of added time, collecting a Ferran Torres pass and driving a low right-footed shot inside the left post. It completed a three-goal PSG finish after Strasbourg had led from the 17th minute.

• Ousmane Dembélé: substitute, assist and goal after missing a penalty.
• Giovanni Reyna: Strasbourg’s opening scorer.
• Désiré Doué: PSG substitute who scored the final goal.
• Illia Zabarnyi: scorer of PSG’s equaliser.

The French season around it

The Matchday 7 contest was played at the Stade de la Meinau on Saturday 17 October 2026. Strasbourg started brightly and created the first serious attacking moments, with Dário Essugo shooting over before Fabio Baldé missed after a Conrad Harder pass.

PSG had early openings of their own. Ferran Torres saw a close-range header saved by Filip Jörgensen, while Lucas Hernández, Beraldo and Maghnes Akliouche all failed to convert chances. Strasbourg carried a threat from set pieces and pressure around the PSG area, with Oso forcing a low save and Reyna heading wide before finding the net.

Reyna struck in the 17th minute. Gessime Yassine supplied the pass and the American midfielder finished with his left foot from the right side of the penalty area, beating Matvey Safonov to put Strasbourg ahead.

Strasbourg remained dangerous after the break. Harder headed an effort saved, then missed from close range after Genesis Antwi’s delivery. In a frantic 67th minute, Safonov denied Yassine and Karim Coulibaly before also stopping Jeyland Mitchell’s effort, while Harder saw another shot saved after Sam Amo-Ameyaw’s assist.

PSG’s substitutions gradually altered the pattern, although Strasbourg had to deal with injuries during the second half. Baldé was replaced by Amo-Ameyaw in the 60th minute, Pape Diop made way for Samir El Mourabet in the 75th, and Harder and Yassine were withdrawn for Jacobo Ortega and Yaya Diémé in the 83rd minute.

PSG used all of their substitutions, which left them exposed when Nuno Mendes was forced off injured in the 87th minute. Strasbourg also saw Genesis Antwi receive treatment in stoppage time.

There were yellow cards for Strasbourg’s Essugo and Harder, both for dangerous play. In the final seconds, Essugo shot wide from outside the area after Reyna’s pass, while Coulibaly also headed off target as Strasbourg chased a route back.