PSG masters Strasbourg and takes the lead in the ranking

She held out her arms to him, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) grabbed her. Thanks to its 4-2 victory against Strasbourg on Saturday October 19 evening at the Parc des Princes, the Parisian club regained first place in the Ligue 1 standings, taking advantage of Monaco’s draw at Lille (0-0) the day before in opening of the 8^e daytime. With 20 points, the two clubs are in the lead but PSG benefits from a largely favorable goal difference (+17 against +10).

With this victory, Luis Enrique and his players present themselves positively for the coming sequence, which promises to be intense with a series of complicated matches. First Tuesday in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven, Olympique de Marseille on Sunday at the Vélodrome, Lens on November 2 and Atlético Madrid on November 6.

The Parisian coach had also decided to bench many executives who played with their selection during the international window: Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembélé, Fabian Ruiz, Nuno Mendes.

Without most of its leaders, the French champion, who was left before the break with a defeat (2-0) against Arsenal and a draw (1-1) against Nice, was able to count once again on a sparkling Bradley Barcola .

Barcola top scorer in the championship

Often hampered by the high pressing of the Alsatians (7^e10 points), PSG managed to play behind them thanks to the deep calls on the left side of their striker who returned to form from his stay with the Blues. It was from him that the opening score came after a one-two with the “titi” Senny Mayulu, 18, lined up in the midfield, who deceived goalkeeper Petrovic with a powerful strike from the left ( 1-0, 18^e).

Often found by his teammates, the young attacking midfielder scored his first goal in Ligue 1 and his second with PSG after scoring last season in the Coupe de France. Already author of a shot on the post in the 12th^e minute, Mayulu was close to achieving a double on several occasions: first by lifting his shot far too high (42^e), or by being stopped by the Strasbourg goalkeeper, again on a cross from Barcola (50^e).

The former Olympique Lyonnais player was also at the origin of the second Parisian goal, concluded on the right side, with a strike from Désiré Doué pushed back on Marco Asensio, who only had to push the ball into the goal (2-0, 47^e) for his second goal of the season.

While Strasbourg reduced the gap through Sékou Mara (2-1, 58^e), the Barcola festival has resumed: Parisian number 29 registered its 7^e goal of the season by playing three Strasbourg defenders (3-1, 65^e), just after the cancellation of a penalty he thought he had caused. The one who received the trophy for the best player of the month for September in the championship before the match consolidated his first place as top scorer. Released at the end of the match, his name was chanted by the 45,000 spectators.

“We rely on our football”

The big victory which presented itself thanks to a goal from Lee Kang-in (4-1, 90^e) at the end of the match was mitigated by a second Alsatian goal in added time from Pape Diong (4-2, 90 + 2).

“Until now, the team depended on individuals, now that is no longer the case, we rely on our football”declared, after this success, Luis Enrique, because “there are a lot of players who can score, everyone participates in attack and defense”.

The Spanish coach, however, did not wish to comment on the homophobic chants chanted mainly by the ultras from the Auteuil stand in view of the match against Olympique de Marseille next weekend. The speaker intervened twice to stop these chants, which continued for several minutes.