STRASBOURG SHOCK FADES AS PSG STAGE INCREDIBLE FIGHTBACK
PSG fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Strasbourg in a Ligue 1 thriller. Diego Panichelli scored twice for the visitors, but Senny Mayulu's late equaliser saved the French champions after a Goncalo Ramos penalty.
At Parc des Princes, Bradley Barcola got PSG off to a quick start, putting the French and European champs ahead. But Strasbourg didn’t back down. They hit back hard, grabbing a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Diego Moreira and Joaquin Panichelli.
PSG found a way back. Gonçalo Ramos nailed a penalty, then Senny Mayulu levelled things up, stopping PSG from losing for the second time in eight league games this season.
Luis Enrique, the PSG boss, said he had to rest some key players who just come back from international duty. He didn’t hide his respect for Strasbourg, calling them “without a doubt one of the top teams in Ligue 1”, and knew this game would be a battle.
Some big names started on the bench. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia only came on in the second half. Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha didn’t play at all.
Strasbourg almost made history. They haven’t won in 35 top-flight visits to PSG, and they came close, but PSG held onto their spot at the top of the league—just one point ahead of Strasbourg now.
But the table could shift again soon. Marseille and Lyon both have a chance to jump ahead if they win on Saturday. Lyon heads to Nice, and Marseille hosts Le Havre.
Luis Enrique made it clear: “We want to win every competition, but it’s going to be tough.” He praised the players who stepped up, but admitted they need a few key guys back.
PSG is still missing Ousmane Dembélé, who’s recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up playing for France last month.
Even with a lineup full of backups, PSG got Desire Doue back after six weeks out. Captain Marquinhos, Fabian Ruiz, and Joao Neves were all still missing.
Doue made a big impact. He earned the penalty for Ramos’s goal and set up Barcola’s opener. In the sixth minute, Barcola and Doue played a one-two, then Doue burst through and scored his fourth of the year.
Strasbourg responded. In the 26th minute, Panichelli smashed in a header from a cross by Guela Doue, Desire’s older brother, tying things up. Right before halftime, Valentin Barco floated a ball over PSG’s defence, and Diego Moreira slotted it past Lucas Chevalier to put Strasbourg ahead.
After the break, Moreira set up Panichelli, who finished his seventh goal in just eight Ligue 1 matches, making it 3-1.
But PSG wasn’t done. After Strasbourg keeper Mike Penders brought down Doue, Ramos coolly converted the penalty. Mayulu then tied it up with 11 minutes left, following up after Lee Kang-in’s shot bounced off the post—his first effort was saved, but he headed in the rebound.
Now, PSG turns their attention back to Europe after already beating Atalanta and Barcelona this season. Next up is Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Strasbourg, meanwhile, gears up for a UEFA Conference League match against Poland’s Jagiellonia Bialystok.
After the game, Strasbourg’s manager, Liam Rosenior, said, “I just wanted us to walk off proud of ourselves, and we did that. We faced the world’s best team. They’re a credit to the league, and so was this match.”
Elsewhere in Ligue 1 this weekend, Monaco heads to Angers for their first match under new coach Sebastien Pocognoli from Belgium.
PSG’S REQUEST FOR A WEEK OFF BETWEEN LIVERPOOL GAMES SPARKS DOMESTIC OUTRAGE
Paris Saint-Germain requests a Ligue 1 postponement against Lens to prepare for their Champions League tie with Liverpool.
Paris Saint-Germain is sticking to its request to postpone a Ligue 1 match so it can get ready for its big Champions League clash with Liverpool.
People have been poking fun at PSG for trying to move their game against Lens, another top team in the league. Lens flat-out rejected the idea. PSG pulled off something similar when they played Chelsea in Europe, and now they want another week off between their matches with Liverpool.
Right now, that Lens match falls right between the two Liverpool games. French media says the league will decide after the LFP board meets this Thursday.
Even with the criticism, PSG claims this isn’t just about them; it’s for the good of French football.
Le Parisien reports PSG’s message: they say their push to reschedule is organised, above board, and doesn’t undermine the competition. One club insider put it like this: Every French team in European competitions lifts the entire league. France is sitting in sixth place in the race for UEFA’s 2025-26 season, and getting to fifth would mean more French clubs in Europe – up to seven of them.
It’s not just pride that’s on the line; there’s cash and exposure, too. If two French teams make the European semi-finals, Ligue 1 gets a boost on and off the field.
PSG also pointed out that the league has moved matches for this exact reason plenty of times before, especially to help French clubs in Europe.
Lens, meanwhile, isn’t hiding how they feel. They released a statement making their opposition clear.
They said the whole thing makes it feel like Ligue 1 is just an afterthought, ready to change at a moment’s notice to suit European ambitions. They argue this simply isn’t fair, which, in their eyes, sets French football apart from other major leagues.
Lens says moving the game would mean they go fifteen days without playing, then suddenly play every three days. That’s a totally different schedule than what was agreed on at the start of the season, and it’s a load that could really mess with a club like theirs.
PSG VS LIVERPOOL: WHY LUIS ENRIQUE REFUSES TO NAME PSG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FAVORITES
Luis Enrique claims there is no favourite as PSG prepares to defend their title against Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain’s manager, Luis Enrique, is clear that there’s no obvious favourite as his team prepares to face Liverpool in their upcoming Champions League tie. Liverpool clinched their quarter-final spot with a dominant 4-0 win over Galatasaray on Wednesday, wrapping up the tie 4-1 on aggregate.
Liverpool, however, has had a tough time in the Premier League this season. Their 2-1 loss at Brighton left them in fifth place, and although that position might be enough to qualify for next season’s Champions League, their recent run of four games without a win puts that in question.
Another route into next season's Champions League is by winning the current tournament, but that path won’t be easy. Liverpool now face the defending champions, PSG, in the quarter-finals. The first leg is scheduled for April 8 in Paris, with the return leg at Anfield six days later.
Despite Liverpool’s struggles at home, Enrique refuses to pick between the two teams ahead of their showdown. These sides met in last season’s round of 16, with PSG progressing after a penalty shootout. Enrique reflected, “Liverpool holds good memories for us, of course. I remember last year. They were the best team in Europe then and playing incredible football.”
He added, “We’re looking forward to this quarter-final, first in Paris, then at Liverpool. I’m fortunate to have an incredible team and intelligent players. They know that when it comes to matches like these, no one is the clear favourite. Playing these two games will be very positive for us.”
Liverpool also still chases domestic silverware, with a tough FA Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City just four days before their first leg against PSG.
Midfielder Florian Wirtz highlighted how crucial it is to build on any momentum from Europe and bring that energy into domestic matches. Before the Brighton loss, the 22-year-old explained, “It will be very important for us, also for our mindset and team spirit, to create momentum and an energy that helps us win all the upcoming games. It’s always better to have a good feeling and a good atmosphere in the dressing room because when you don’t win, the team isn’t happy.”
He finished by stressing, “It’s always better to win, and of course, we need the points. We’ll be ready for the game and try to take the three points home.”
