Paris Saint-Germain left Strasbourg with three points, a 3-1 win and a growing injury concern only days before their Champions League meeting with Barcelona. A much-changed side had been put under pressure in Saturday’s seventh Ligue 1 matchday, but the visitors found their way back through the impact of their substitutes.
Substitutes turn the game for Paris
PSG were struggling in Strasbourg before Luis Enrique called on his bench, with Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué playing decisive roles in the turnaround.
- Paris won 3-1 away to Strasbourg on Saturday.
- Dembélé, introduced from the bench, scored but also failed to convert a penalty.
- Doué was another substitute on the scoresheet.
- The result came after Luis Enrique had rotated his team for the Ligue 1 fixture.
The comeback ensured that PSG avoided a damaging domestic setback, but the final stages brought more uncomfortable news for the French champions.
Mendes injury raises Barcelona concern
Nuno Mendes was forced off late in the match, with PSG having already used all of their substitutions. The Portuguese full-back’s departure left Paris down to 10 men against Strasbourg.
Luis Enrique said the club would wait before establishing the extent of the problem.
“I hope it is only a minor issue. Tomorrow will be the time to assess the situation. We did not want to take any risks,” the PSG coach said after the game.
The timing is far from ideal. Barcelona are due in Paris’s next fixture on Tuesday, in the Champions League, just three days after the trip to Strasbourg.
Paris question Mitchell challenge on Akliouche
The closing moments became even more difficult when Maghnes Akliouche was hurt shortly after Mendes went off. The France international was caught on the ankle by a challenge from Strasbourg’s Jeyland Mitchell, leaving PSG briefly with only nine players on the pitch.
- Mitchell reached the ball first in the challenge.
- His boot then made contact with Akliouche’s ankle.
- PSG were left frustrated that the Strasbourg player was not shown a red card.
There was clear confusion inside the Paris camp after the final whistle over the absence of a dismissal. The victory survived the late disruption, but PSG now face an anxious wait on Mendes and Akliouche before Barcelona arrive.
