Nuno Mendes emerged as Paris Saint-Germain’s unlikely hero, heading home a late winner to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory over Strasbourg despite the visitors being reduced to 10 men on Sunday.
PSG climbed back to the summit of Ligue 1 thanks to Mendes’ decisive 81st-minute header, converting Warren Zaïre-Emery’s pinpoint delivery just six minutes after Achraf Hakimi was sent off.
Hakimi’s dismissal came after a VAR intervention, with referee Eric Wattellier upgrading an initial yellow card to red for a rash challenge on Joaquín Panichelli.
The setback left Luis Enrique’s side facing a tense finale at Stade de la Meinau.
Panichelli was heavily involved early on, winning a 20th-minute penalty after Marquinhos handled in the box, only for PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov to deny him from the spot.
The save proved crucial, as PSG broke forward almost immediately and took the lead two minutes later, Senny Mayulu finishing calmly after being teed up by Bradley Barcola.
Strasbourg responded before the interval, however, with Guéla Doué finding the net to restore parity and send the sides in level at the break.
Despite enjoying a numerical advantage after Hakimi’s red card, the hosts struggled to impose themselves, managing just four second-half attempts and failing to register a single shot on target.
PSG made them pay late on, as Mendes rose highest to nod in the winner and secure a vital three points.
The sending-off was Hakimi’s fourth red card in Ligue 1, though his first since May 2023. It also marked PSG’s first dismissal in the league since March 2024, ending a remarkable run of 60 top-flight matches without seeing red, the longest such streak in Ligue 1 since Auxerre between 2010 and 2011.
Mendes’ match-winning moment capped an outstanding all-round display. The full-back led the contest for chances created (three), touches (128), passes (102), accurate passes (92) and passes in the final third (28), underlining his influence on a night where PSG showed both resilience and quality.
