PSG beat Strasbourg 2-1 with a late Nuno Mendes winner despite Achraf Hakimi’s red card, moving two points clear at the top of Ligue 1
PARIS Saint-Germain retook top spot in Ligue 1 with a dramatic 2-1 victory away to Strasbourg on Sunday.
The reigning champions secured the win with an 81st-minute header from defender Nuno Mendes.
PSG played the final 16 minutes with 10 men after Achraf Hakimi was sent off for a high tackle.
The Moroccan international’s yellow card was upgraded to a red following a VAR review.
Strasbourg had missed a golden chance to take an early lead from the penalty spot.
PSG goalkeeper Matfei Safonov saved Joaquin Panichelli’s 12th-minute penalty after a handball by captain Marquinhos.
Visiting midfielder Senny Mayulu then prodded PSG into a 1-0 lead midway through the first half.
Strasbourg equalised before the half-hour mark through Guela Doue, who turned in Ben Chilwell’s cross.
Mendes later headed in Warren Zaire-Emery’s cross to score the decisive late winner.
PSG coach Luis Enrique admitted his side were fortunate to claim all three points.
“We were fortunate to win this match when most people would have thought it was impossible,” said Enrique.
“It was not our best performance. In the end I don’t know if we deserved to win or not but it was very important.”
The victory extends PSG’s winning run in Ligue 1 to six consecutive matches.
It moves them two points clear of second-placed Lens at the summit.
Strasbourg coach Gary O’Neil expressed pride in his team’s performance despite the defeat.
“I am really proud of the team but really disappointed that we somehow found a way to lose, because I thought we were excellent and created the better chances,” said O’Neil.
The loss was Strasbourg’s first in four matches under their new English manager.
They remain seventh in the table, just two points behind fifth-placed Lille.
In Sunday’s other Ligue 1 action, Lyon continued their superb form with a 1-0 home win over Lille.
A goal from Danish midfielder Noah Nartey secured a 10th consecutive victory in all competitions for Paulo Fonseca’s side.
Lyon are now level on points with third-placed Marseille and hold a seven-point cushion in the fourth Champions League qualification spot.
Nice fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Brest.
Toulouse and Auxerre played out a 0-0 draw, while Angers defeated bottom club Metz 1-0.
Monaco were the weekend’s biggest winners after hammering Rennes 4-0 on Saturday.
