Paris Saint-Germain defeated RC Strasbourg 2-1 on Sunday evening at the Meinau, reclaiming the Ligue 1 lead. Despite playing with ten men for nearly 20 minutes after Achraf Hakimi's red card, PSG held firm thanks to strong showings from Matvey Safonov and Kang-in Lee. The win sets the stage for the upcoming Classique against Marseille, without Hakimi.
Paris Saint-Germain clinched a vital 2-1 victory over RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1's 21st matchday on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Meinau. Trailing after Désiré Doué's goal for the hosts, PSG turned the game around with strikes from Nuno Mendes and another unspecified scorer, before defending stoutly a man down.
Matvey Safonov, starting over Lucas Chevalier, emerged as a key figure. The Russian goalkeeper denied a crucial penalty, bringing his season tally to five saves out of seven attempts—a European record among top-five league keepers, per Opta. “It’s my job, I have to stop it,” he said modestly post-match.
Kang-in Lee, sidelined since December 17 following the Intercontinental Cup final win against Flamengo, made an impactful return in the second half. The South Korean injected pace and versatility, starting the move for Mendes' goal and hitting the crossbar with a fine strike. His defensive recovery on Pedro Moreira and winning the final corner stood out. Désiré Doué also impressed as a substitute with his lively play.
Among the disappointments, 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye failed to capitalize on starts for the absent Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, and initial benching of Doué. Subbed off at halftime after a subdued display with seven lost balls, he offered little threat.
Luis Enrique's major setback was Achraf Hakimi's 75th-minute red card for a late challenge on Alexis Panichelli. The Moroccan full-back, who had contributed going forward, will miss next Sunday's Classique against Olympique de Marseille.
Strasbourg, unbeaten at home since November 30 and on an eight-game unbeaten streak, struggled to capitalize on their numerical edge. Gary O'Neil's substitutions, including pulling Julien Enciso, yielded nothing, in stark contrast to PSG's effective bench impact.
This away triumph bolsters PSG ahead of European fixtures and the Marseille derby.
